Rainy Brush Hill

I took the dog for a walk around Brush Hill this morning. It was a really soggy, wet morning, but I wanted to check on the Violet Helleborines to see if they'd flowered yet. Still no flowers, but the buds have developed more, so they can't be too far away. I also managed to find a few more plants, so there are about 20 up there that I've found so far.

Violet helleborine

A group of 4 violet helleborines

The buds are developing

Looks like something had eaten the tops off some
plants - deer maybe?

The rest of the walk was perfect weather for the snails!

Brown-lipped snail

Strawberry snail (maybe)

Copse snail (I think)

I walked down through the trees, then climbed up the steps and appeared at the bottom of the chalk grassland slope. It was a sight for soggy eyes as it was covered in flowers.

Harebells in the raindrops

It was much too damp for the butterflies, but I did spot this little bee hiding under a flower trying (not very successfully) to keep dry.

I admired the view from the top of the hill for a while - still stunning even in the rain.

Then I headed back to the car and found some peacock caterpillars enjoying the nettles. They're big and spiky and must be close to pupating. It's good to see them a little more often now, as there seem to have been less of them this year than others.

Feeling spiky today!

When I got home Whistlejacket and his wife, our back garden red kites, were sat in their tree. They were looking a big soggy and fed up!