Summer at last! The warm and settled weather at the end of July has enticed the wildlife from sheltered places. We were all wondering what this year would bring in the way of Chalkhill blues; in abundance on Bindon Hill, and perhaps the first recording at the bottom of Hambury Tout. We are waiting for a sighting of a female to confirm breeding on that particular site. A male was even spotted in the wildlife garden outside the Heritage Centre. We have also seen many Dark Green Fritillaries and Gatekeepers on Hambury and Bindon over the past few weeks. It is harder to confuse Gatekeepers with Meadow Browns now the latter is fading nearing the end of their cycle.
Grassland sites are looking spectacularly colourful this year. It is noticeably more floristic on the top of Bindon Hill; Eyebright in abundance, Betony, Squinancywort, Common Centaury, Harebells and Clustered Bellflowers. Also flowering is Horseshoe Vetch, Marjoram, Small Scabious, Black Knapweed, Dyer's Greenweed and Red Bartsia.
Swifts are more noticeable around the village this year; making their presence known with their loud screeches and impressive aerial displays. Our team and many other beach-goers witnessed the Peregrine family at Dungy Head harassing a pigeon low over the beach one hot evening before disappearing round the corner out of sight.
I do not think I am alone in saying that this was one of the most breathtaking hunting displays ever witnessed from the beach performed by the four magnificent birds.
For the flower of the month we have chosen Greater Knapweed which is very valuable to bees and a magnet for many species of butterfly. One such butterfly is the Marbled White which nectaring on the Knapweed is a picture to behold!
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