Vapour trails marked the blue sky between the clouds. Some leaf edges had dried and curled upon a Sycamore beside the Centre. The wildlife garden hedgerow height meant that the fence need not be replaced. Reliably a Green Woodpecker was heard calling, whistle a Gatekeeper slowly explore a Blackberry clump in light wind. Entering South Field, a latrine near the gateway revealed that Blackberries were the main diet of the Badgers. A trio of Carrion Crow were upon the hay cat grassland whilst another trio of Swallows skimmed over it heading west. Saxons hay rake quarr had the flowers of Field Scabious, Ox Eye Daisy and Rest Harrow near the shallow quarry depression. Lady’s Bedstraw and Wild Thyme flowers evident upon ant hills whilst Eyebright and event of stem of Yellow Wort gave colour to the areas of thin stony soils. In the distance a Buzzard perched in a tree near Haysom’s Meadow. I noted that bales still needed to be removed from near the reclaimed landfill. On the north facing side of the field weak sun deprived one Bumblebee sat on a Knapweed flower whilst another clung-on upside down to that of a Field Scabious. A believe it was a Small Blue with its wings shut that was seen nearby. A Chaffinch perched in a Sycamore itself in a Hedgerow visited by a Magpie and a Whitethroat. Upon the downland undulating landscape I moved through knee even waist high vegetation as I followed a mammal track. This led to my disturbing a Roe Deer, a Rabbit and Pheasants. The latter startled me a a female and a juvenile burst out with a cacophony of noisy calls and wing beats. Another juvenile a metre from later followed. Swallows and occasional hose Martins were seen in small groups. A Peregrine Falcon left the upper Measure Mile Marker and rode up drafts.
STARGAZING UPDATE: Sunday 12th Sept. As the forecast is not promising we may have to cancel. If we proceed we will only offer the presentation and looking telescopes but not see anything through them. Check status at: https://wessex-astro.org.uk/