A Sea of Scarlet and Sovereignty

   The air sat at a mild 16°C, but a brisk easterly gusting up to 26 mph threw down a 12°C chill as I set off. No matter—the local wildlife and flora were out in fine form. On the recreation ground, a couple of corvids were busy drilling into the turf, whilst further up at the cemetery road, a brilliant explosion of scarlet poppies had officially announced the arrival of summer. Naturally, the camera came out.

   The local rook brigade was out in absolute force today, filling the treetops with chatter and blanketing the empty fields. Nearby, a half-dozen jackdaws held a brief, hopping committee meeting before dispersing at my approach. Amidst the usual weeds and wild banks, one absolute monarch stole the show: a massive, purple-coloured oriental poppy, growing majestically tall and looking down on its lesser neighbours with pure, regal disdain.
   A long-tailed tit darted into the hawthorn, a dunnock made a high-speed exit through the gateway, and a solitary corn marigold added a brilliant splash of gold to another sea of roadside poppies. Rounding off the stroll, a tiny sparrow claimed the leisure centre roof, whilst a duo of curly-coated dogs—a friendly brown Cockapoo and a handsome doodle-mix—brushed past to close out a highly successful trek.
Walk Statistics
Distance: 1.8 miles
Time: 37 minutes
Google Fit: 23 heart points

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