With the winds blowing strongly from the south, I began my patrol by looking at the practical work that h as been going on in the last week out on the National Nature Reserve. Along a couple of the old droves we have been cutting back the blackthorn and bramble scrub to allow better access for our visitors, while ensuring there is plenty of patches of a variety of ages and widths for the wildlife.
Taking advantage of one of these corridors was a group of 6 Bullfinches, the ‘squeaky’ call heard above the wind, then the flashes of white rump as they flew ahead, only as they perched on the twigs of the Hawthorn, did I see their gorgeous bright pink chests.
Bounding across the field another white rump caught my attention, this male Roe Deer, sporting a large almost heart shaped splodge of fur on its backside, while its antlers were covered in the soft furry velvet.
Emerging from the middle of the field was a Skylark, as it flew quite close past me, I was able to see the white wing markings and flecked chest.
In the far field 10 young brown and white Hereford Cattle were hiding on the lea side of the dry stone wall, sheltering from the 30mph winds, the rest of the herd have returned to the farm to give birth.
With the strong wind, it felt essential to go to the top of the downland, here it was really difficult to stand upright, leaning into the wind the only way to go. A few Jackdaws perched on the wall, then taking off they were jolted backward by the wind before battling to go wherever they were aiming! Magpies were having much the same issue, while higher overhead the Raven seemed to be coping better.
A Dunnock was skulking near the bottom of the bushes, as a Wren made itself known by the occasional burst of call.