Don't worry, I'm not refering to the effects of any fights - though I did watch a magpie hassling a rabbit mercilessly outside the visitor centre earlier in the week.
No, the black refers to the colour of the sky to the west about an hour ago, while looking east the sea was a deep blue beneath a glorious blue sky. Sadly (or perhaps just as well for our gardens and parched vegetation) the black won out this time, and a sharp shower hit us just as I was walking back to the office from the visitor centre. Looks like another is on its way too.
My reason for having gone down to the visitor centre was a happy one, for it was to celebrate the retirement of one of Minsmere's longest serving staff. Many visitors have had the pleasure of meeting Ian Denney over the last ten years or so. His smile and sharp wit have enlightened many a dull day for the staff too. Ian celebrated hitting the officail retirement age today, and we joined up for gorgeous chocolate cakes in the tearoom at 4 pm to wish him luck. We're not losing Ian though, as he's returning straight away as a volunteer, so keep an eye open for him next time you visit (on a Thursday at least).
Talking of the visitor centre staff, there's a few welcomes too. Heather Carroll has recently joined us as Retail Manager, while Monika Koch, who has been a volunteer at both Minsmere and Snape for the last year or so joins the retail team in a paid capacity. Another volunteer about to start a paid role is Sophie Bennett, who is joining the tearoom team.
Refering back to the title, the purple and white relate to two of our more interesting butterflies. It seems to be a good year for both the white admiral and purple hairstreak, with numerous records of both. Purple hairstreaks are best watched from Canopy Hide as they tend to stay high int he oak canopy, thoguh you may see them elsewhere by scannign suitable sunny spots with binoculars. White admirals feed on brambles in sun-dappled woodland rides, and several have ventured down as far as the visitor centre buddleias too.
There's been a good passage of waders on the Scrape this week, including wood sandpiper, little ringed plover and sanderling alongside the more regular common and green sandpipers, greenshanks, dunlins and ruffs. These waders are favouring the South Scrape of the Levels pools, but with water returning slowly to East Scrape a few are turning up there too. We've started allowing saltwater to flow onto the East Scrape to encourage autumn wader passage. Although normally freshwater, this temporary flush of saltwater should benefit the area, as the Scrape is really an artifical saline lagoon.
There's a few terns still visiting the Scrape from time to time. The eclipse female ferruginous duck remains on Island Mere, thoguh can be difficult to see at time. A red kite flew over today. And, of course, the marsh mallow and other flowers look stunning.