What a superb starry night last night, stars as far as the eye could see (and further!), amazing to gaze up at from this Dark Skies Site. While admiring the sound of a Tawny Owl could be heard ‘twooing’ in the background and the snuffling sounds of a Badger heard in the wood edge – this nocturnal mammal spotted after a while shuffling across the ground, blending into the dark very well despite the white stripes.
Stripes of pink across the horizon, a group of Shags passing in front, making them dark silhouettes. On the water which was flat calm a few Herring Gulls bobbed around fishing boat.
A high pitched calling wafting down from the tops of the Elms, as most of the leaves have fallen, watching the Goldcrests was quite easy for such tiny active birds, the flashes of gold spotted as they flitted through the twigs.
Softly flying through the woodland branches were 3 Jays, their deep buff-pink contrasting with the white and blue wing flashes, and, of course as they disappeared from the view the large white rump was very evident.
Up on the meadow a Green Woodpecker took flight from the ground, a noisy ‘yaffle’ as it flew off, while later in the woods a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard and its red trousers spotted half way up the Plane Tree.
Under the Privet and Hazel, turning the dead leaves over, were a couple of Blackbirds looking for a tasty morsel of food.
Nearby a Robin was singing and a Wren loudly calling as I walked by.
A trickle of water running down the stream, where Ferns and Mosses are flourishing alongside Pendulous Sedge.
As I returned to the centre, I was greeted by the wonderful sound of a flock of Goldfinches as they landed in the topmost twigs of a large Ash tree, the bright colours adding to the dramatic grey skies.