Skylark Alley

[puddleshark]

Set off early, before it got too hot, along Skylark Alley, the track from Renscombe to St Aldhelm's Head. In May it is a path of Skylarks singing above wheatfields. A white chalk track lined with golden flowers of Black Mustard.




Northwesterly. A little weathervane by the track, perhaps for when the local farmer is spraying his crops.


Chalk track & wheatfields.


Ears of wheat. And ears.


Whitethroats singing from perches on top of the Elder bushes. And I even heard a Corn Bunting (though I never got to see it).




Black Mustard. Two metres tall, and the wind waving the flowers on their wiry stems like a celebration of sunlight and all things bright yellow.


Faded and battered Painted Lady.


A track lined with Black Mustard leading down to a stone quarry, and in the distance, the old coastguard cottages on St Aldhelm's Head, and the sea.


The barley midway between green and yellow.


Skylark Alley. Nearing the end of the headland and the old coastguard cottages, the fields are full of Skylarks fluttering up to sing, catching a moment's rest on fence posts and bushes.




Nearing the sea, St Aldhelm's Chapel.


The Coastwatch station was displaying notices saying they would be serving tea and home-made cakes over the Bank Holiday Weekend, but, alas, I was there too early. So I turned to follow the coast path along the cliffs, as far as a weathered, lichened old bench slowly being devoured by the Sea Cabbage and the Thistles.






It is such a lovely place to sit - if you sit carefully - and watch the Red-tailed Bumblebees and Red Soldier Beetles visiting the thistle flowers.


Milk Thistle.


Lots of activity for the Coastwatch people to watch today. So many yachts and fishing boats out making the most of the fine weather.



It was a bit too bright and hazy for landscape photography, but I snatched a few shots of the coast.


Gad Cliff.


Chapman's Pool.

Back along the chalk track with the Skylarks still singing. The sun getting warmer, but the north wind still fresh enough to make walking pleasant rather than a chore. Thrilling displays of aerobatics from the Swallows and Swifts swooping above the track and the fields.


Swift. "Sleeping, eating, bathing and even mating on the wing (while flying), Swifts rarely touch the ground. They are also the fastest birds in level flight, with an impressive top speed of 69mph." https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/swift


Swallow.

Slightly blurry shots, but hey, Swallows and Swifts are a lot faster than I am.

Comments

[sartorias]

Oh my that mustard is bright!