I observed what past volunteer & staff member Ralph described as a “tonsure” resembling ring of petals upon a Teasel head. Red Clover and Bristly Ox Tongue bloomed around the edge of a large Limestone slab, whilst nearby Field Scabious flowers stood proud. The soundscape contained cooing Woodpigeon, mewing Herring Gulls and the tinnitus-like sound of Grasshopper and Bushcricket striations.
It was a good morning for Marbled White, Skipper and Gatekeeper butterflies. The latter were best seen at the Small Copse easterly margin. Also on the wing were colourful, day flying Six Spot Burnet moths. These can be confused with Cinnabar moths both being red a black (dark blue to me!). Finally, some Fleabane have finally emerged on damper patches on the downland. Seed burrs hand develop upon stems of Agrimony, waiting to be transported by passing mammals.
I found what I had been locking for, albeit in the wrong place. Alongside Yellowwort, and Pyramidal Orchids one stem of Common Toadflax bloomed on the slope near the demo quarr. However, the main clump on the seaward road edge was just a few flowerless stems with leaf whorls. Patience! Although, a Yellow Hammer call was heard, the bird could not be found. Both a Marbled White and a Six Spot Burnet moth visited separate Greater Knapweed flowers. Bittersweet, and Old Mans beard clipped through scrub and added their blooms. Another climber, Black Bryony, displayed small grapelike fruit cluster. Later, amongst both hedgerow and fence was another climber, this with small, pale five petalled flowers being Wild Madder.
A trio of chattering Goldfinch were discovered along with a silent Greenfinch trio near the walling centre. The musky scent of Fox was picked up on one of the “bird ringer net paths”. Here too was a healthy clump Self Heal, a few Ox Eye Daisies and the bulbous seed pods of Stinking Iris. A breeze rustled the leaves and seed masts of a Sycamore. A Field Maple, of the same tree family, also head masts. Welcome to the school holidays.