Beside the Learning Centre were a pair of House Sparrows accompanied by Robin in the hedgerow. The sun shone and illuminated the slopes of Ballard Down whilst there was dew at my feet. Several large containers ships were seen heading west, however, one appeared most surreal. Viewed either port or starboard end on it was simple a giant cube on the horizon that immitted a trail of exhaust. More familiar was the yellow hulled lobster pot boat working off the Lighthouse.
Small puddles sat beside foot and paw prints in patches of exposed damp downland clay. In a naked Sycamore in the Small Copse, perched a Magpie duo. The scrub fringed drystone wall that stretched between Saxon and Lighthouse field hosted two resting or observing Carrion Crows.
Over the downland passed two, possibly three Swallow. The Kestrel that was contentedly perched and preening on the overhead electricity line was joined by a Carrion Crow. The Crow perched right next to the Kestrel but briefly before they went of in an argumentative chase. Some seventy Woodpigeon flew overhead and out to see shortly followed by another thirty. I had to investigate the large bird perched above the demo quarr. Again, it was a pair of Hen Pheasant perched in a crown of Hawthorn. Upon the gully sides I spotted a stationary Rabbit, near enough to cover should it need it! I assumed that the Bumble Bee, that flew through low lying Gorse, was disappointed at the lack of flowers. Nearby was a male Stonechat whilst higher up slope a Jay flew over the downland. I guessed the Jay might have been retrieving acorns from its stash.
One of the few English Oaks in the downland found “downstream” of Lighthouse Road Bridge held onto less than a third of its leaves. Closer inspection revealed some Cherry (or Marble) Galls associated with its buds.
My second Kestrel encounter witnessed the predator bearing its wing to maintain a fixed position over the downland. The passage of a clan a chattering high visibility wearing joggers created a response in the form of Blackbird alarm calls. Another flock of thirty Woodpigeon flew in a shifting figure of eight pattern about the Large Copse. The Bird Ringers reported some two hundred and twenty Stock Dove and eight hundred Woodpigeon had passed over this morning.