A beautiful midsummer morning, with clear blue skies and a welcome south-westerly breeze taking the edge of the heat.
In sheltered parts of the meadows, the air is filled with a kaleidoscope of butterflies, whirling and skipping above a colourful carpet of flowers. Marbled Whites are becoming more numerous by the day, fluttering in drunken spiral paths, with little orange and brown Large and Small Skippers whirring more purposefully from flower to flower.
Along the hedgerows, Meadow Browns weave their way among Bramble and Bryony, as 6 Speckled Woods dogfight over a patch of dappled sun in sheltered gateway. On the drove, a lovely red and black Cinnabar Moth gleams in the sun as a huge bright orange Dark Green Fritillary powers by. Common Blue, Small Blue, Small Heath and Grizzled Skipper among the other species seen this morning.
The meadows are starting to soften from spring green to shades of bronze and gold, dappled with pink, yellow and purple. As Common Spotted Orchids start to turn, they are replaced by thousands of dark pink Pyramidal Orchids. The tall, dark purple flowers of Knapweed are also starting to appear, among a swaying canopy of Ox-eye Daisies and white-flowered Corky-fruited Water Dropwort.
In the ‘undergrowth’ below, Yellow Rattle is ripening, and Pale Flax is covered in spherical seeds. Red Bartsia (a semi-parasite like Yellow Rattle) can be seen along path edges, with Common, Carrot and Ivy Broomrape (true parasites) also in flower. To explore the meadows, join me for a guided walk at 11.00 today.
The downs are also full of colour and variety, with dense carpets of honey-scented Lady’s Bedstraw (and white Hedge Bedstraw), domed anthills covered in pink Wild Thyme, with the pink and white flowers of Squinancywort also in bloom.
The ledges are still packed with Guillemots and Razorbills, so do take the chance to see them before they return to sea for the winter in just a couple of weeks time.