Swifts have flown to warmer climes. Many congregated over the village for their last displays in July. House martins and Swallows follow in August/September. Gone are the songs of Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and other migratory birds. So the skies are somewhat quieter than the past few months.
Hedgerows look ragged with dead seed heads and Cow Parsley and Hogweed skeletons. Common Toadflax, Lesser Bindweed, and the bright red berries of Lords-and-Ladies are out in full glory on grass verges. By contrast, the leaves of some of trees are showing signs of autumn with crinkly edges or tinged with pale green, yellow and orange.
Adonis blue butterflies have had their second brood, so join Chalkhill blues on the Downland. Other butterflies are looking ragged and pale as the adults come to the end of their life so that they become hard to identify.
New additions to flowers on the chalk slopes are Autumn Lady’s-tresses and Autumn Gentians, both beautiful flowers. Bindon Hill is a good place to see both plants, the latter is seen at its best in the sunshine with its bell flowers fully open.
We have chosen Autumn Gentian for the flower of the month; when flowers are closed it can be easily missed as it can ‘blend in’ on grassland. The stem and leaves have a red tinge to them and some are very full with flowers developing into a cluster at the top. When you spot one flower you may then find many more in a small area on the hill, rather than dotted all around.
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