Yesterday evening I went to see the Autumn Gentian, Autumn Ladies Tresses, and Bastard Toadflax at hay rake quarr. Unfortunately, I found the nearby electric fence had a broken bottom strand (luckily cattle were still contained) so repairing this delayed my return home. This morning the fence was intact and the Hereford Cattle in the same location, many of the animals having pushed in the scrub to binge on Ivy leaves.
Throughout the morning the flight of Swallows and House Martins would be a constant feature. At te foot of walls at the Learning Centre both Mexican Daisy and Valerian held flowers, the latter going to seed. In the hedgerows the fruits include both red and black Blackberries, pale red Rosehips as Sloes and both pale and dark Elderberries. The yellows of both Fleabane and Ragwort added some colour. Old Man’s Beard lived up to its name to shed seeds to the wind.
Under the Large Copse’s canopy, I found a Roe Deer form at the base of a Holm Oak. This was indicated as a bare soil scrape amongst Black Pine needle carpet. Nearby, despite relative fresh soil, a Badger sett entrance appeared to not have been recently used. I noticed several substantial Elms (Witch?) one having a girth that I could not hug. Half a dozen Carrion Crow were observed flying up the valley from Taskers. Later they were seen upon the coastal ridge. Fox leavings appeared to have been dissected by a bird. One Bristly Ox Tongue flower upon a foot tall stem had evaded the hay cut. The large smooth and shiny leaves of Black Bryony stood out amongst Blackthorn cover. A Wasp flew in the sun low over a well-trodden grassy path. Path side both Yarrow and Restharrow bloomed. An excellent hairy Pin Cushion was upon a wild Rose. I passed a Woolly Thistle as tall as myself and equally tall Burdock. A calling Goldfinch trio landed in Elder but two more emerged nearby. A few failing Common Toadflax flowers were found by the roadside, however, my hunt for more Gentians amongst the exposed rock was not rewarded. I was surprised to have a small Rabbit race uphill for some distance in a long straight path, near the Mile Markers. I believe it was a Kestrel In glimpsed about the gully rock face.
Offshore clumps of detached seaweed floated in a milky sea. I thought I saw a Herring Gull chase Feral Doves.