A wonderful sunny start, with Swallows swooping across the sky, the twittering of their calls easily the loudest sound to be heard. Most of these birds were heading along the coastline from the west, although at regular intervals bunches of them swept inland in a big circle.
Whilst admiring the acrobatic action of the Swallows, a different movement caught my attention, I was able to follow this white rumped Wheatear until it landed on the top of the tall grey metal mile marker, where it perched.
At one end of the electric wires, a group of 9 Jackdaws balanced, however in amongst the line (at number 4) was a Magpie, as if joining the club, all chuckling together.
In a Hawthorn tree which was covered in dark red berries, was a Bullfinch, the brilliant bright pink chest of this male showing as it flitted about, a female was also perched, but being much duller, more difficult to spot until the white rump could be seen as it turned.
Disappearing up the gully was a Jay, this the third bird with a white rump seen today – only the House Martin missing of our land birds with this easily identifiable characteristic.
A sudden flit up and down alerted me to a Spotted Flycatcher, which was doing as its names suggests, catching flies. On landing the legs of the unfortunate insect meal could be seen dangling from the bird’s beak before disappearing. A few minutes spent watching this continuous activity, until interrupted by the sight of a rust coloured Roe Deer bounding across the downland.
A few other small birds spotted included Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Blackbird and Wren. But on my return to the Ranger’s office a Grasshopper Warbler burst out of the long grass into the Bramble scrub, allowing a view of its rounded tail and long-looking face.
A good few yellow composite daisy type flowers out at present including Rough Hawkbit, Smooth Hawk’s-beard, Hoary Ragwort, Oxford Ragwort, Bristly Ox-tongue and Hawkweed Ox-tongue