For Ferns first morning patrol (my dog) I decided to take her down long meadow to begin with and back up past the play tail. While walking along I was amazed by how many Swallows were flying about ready to make the long journey back to Africa. They were all zooming about in all different directions searching for that last meal. In the middle of the field a Magpie could be seen walking around the field. While several other flew past visibly struggling against the wind.
While we walked the wind and rain seemed to pick up, so I was quite thankful of the cover from the trees. Along the play trail I could hear the distinctive cackle of a Greenwood Pecker, coming from somewhere down the slope. After Fern said hello to another dog we headed down past the castle where I noticed some Buddleia still in flower. The Purple flowers just starting to turn brown. The Tamarisk was swaying in the wind, while the waves could be heard crashing into the cliffs.
Past the Globe I notice a Shag flying low to the sea heading towards the lighthouse, it then lands on the water occasional dunking its head in the water looking for breakfast. Ivy clings to a Tamarisk to my right and is just about to flower being one of the very last things of the year to flower.
Heading up past the mile markers straight up the hill hoping Fern would pull me up, she did not. Walking along the top of the field I notice a Wayfaring Tree that has started to lose it leaves. The Crab Apple next to it still had a few apples left on it which were clinging on for dear life as the wind battered the tree. The wind and the rain started to pick up again so I made a B line to the centre thinking I would shelter in the bird hide for a while.
I hid the hide for a few minutes not seeing anything, presumably all the birds were hiding from the wind and rain as well. Of course, when I get back to the centre and start making my cup of tea the clouds clear and the sun comes out.