Yesterday, I, Tom and the work party were pulling ragwort one field ahead of the tractor that was hay cutting. This morning I saw that Smithfield had been reached but we may need to remind them not to forget Long Meadow.
Today’s highlight, towards my walks end, had to have been a pod of at least four Dolphins. As I paused whilst ascending from the Lighthouse, something big leapt out of the sea. Patience revealed two pairs of dorsal fins which appeared to be circling off the measured mile markers.
A polite word halted drone flight near the demonstration quarr before I head the sea cliffs. One Shag was seen flying west as was most of the Herring Gull movement. Looking down to Tilly Whim ledge I saw a Peregrine Falcon also head east. It rose calling to the cliff tops. I may have been mistaken but I though I heard the call of another, but the sun’s position made looking challenging. Nearby only a Shag perched ½ way down the sea cliffs near the cave ledge.
At the gully Kestrel a castle explored overhead before heading east. I enjoyed Rock Samphire, Golden Samphire and a few Sea Aster flowers near the gully mouth. Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers were upon the wing. A Rock Pipit was about the mouth, but further inspection revealed a Pied Wagtail as well. Sea Campion was still flowering near the Lighthouse but a trio of pink chest high Tree Mallow flowers we perfect height to see a visiting Bee. Lighthouse Green was patrolled by two Jackdaw as the cattle grazed just over the wall. Several dry Pyramidal Orchid flower stems were dotted about the green. Small black Elderberries dangled beside the Horseshoe bridge.
Before good indoors I popped into to see the bird ringers as I was curious as to whether the Night Jar sound recordings had brought such a bird in. So far one had been seen passing through, but today’s haul consisted of juvenile Firecrest; Grasshopper Warbler; Whitethroats; Linnet; Bullfinch; Chaffinch and Reed Warbler. They reported Sand Martins passing over and having seen an Emperor Dragonfly over a dry pond. This morning’s maximum temperature revealed that yesterday was the hottest day, so far, this month at 27.1 degrees Celsius. Today the breeze was most welcome.