A very welcome grey cloudy start, nice and cool for my walk!
Grazing in amongst the mass of grasses was a Roe Deer, her chestnut coloured head visible above the flowering heads of the grasses including Tall Fescue, Crested Dog’s Tail, Cock’s-foot, Yorkshire Fog, Rye Grass, Tor Grass and the Quaking Grass.
A few minutes later she moved to be surrounded by a swaying carpet of white and yellow Ox-Eye Daisy flowers.
From the hedgerow the chattering of Whitethroat, a group of six flitting from branch to branch, as were Linnets and some Great Tits, all showing successful fledging.
Swooping low across the meadow a couple of Swallows whilst hovering high above a Skylark, the loud song not to be missed.
Some magnificent flowers to enjoy, with a large patch of Kidney Vetch, a dark yellow, with many of the heads now turning fluffy and slightly brownish. Elsewhere other vetches dominating with Dyer’s Greenweed showing bright yellow – again some starting to go to seed, while the multi flowered purple petals of Tufted Vetch contrast with the pinker Common Vetch and the cerise individual flower of the Grass Vetchling.
As I walked along the path, large fronds of Bracken brushed against me, while I avoided a similar fate from a Nettle – taking a closer look at a nibbled leaf a black caterpillar with spines appeared curving itself up from the lower side, a Peacock caterpillar.
A few moths in the trap including the Cream Spot Tiger, black and white on the top, the orange and black underneath brilliant as it flew.
The furry Lackey, beautifully marked Clouded Silver, and Scorched Wing and the Shuttle-shaped Dart, Reddish Light Arches and Dark Arches to name a few!.
While I also took the chance to compare the close relatives of the Heart and Dart and the Heart and Club – with a bit of imagination the differences between the dart shape and the club shape on their wings easily spotted.
Keep and eye out for our four Orchids – all still to be found – Pyramidal, Common Spotted, Southern Marsh and the delicate Bee Orchid.