Can’t believe it’s the 1st October already! Although with the number of Swallows and Martins flying overhead definitely that time of year!
As the season change so do the moth catches, last night a pristine Black Rustic, and newly emerged Feathered Ranunculus as well as Dark Swordgrass.
The numbers of Red Admiral butterflies have been amazing over the last few days, this morning’s early gloom meaning many of these insects were still snoozing, their wings shut as they clung to the stems of the Old Man’s Beard, others were taking a short flight onto the mass of Ivy flowers for a sip of nectar, I counted 40 without really trying. A couple of Painted Lady's also present
From above came the distinctive calling of a flock of about 30 Siskin whilst some Meadow Pipits headed in the opposite direction, some had landed in amongst the short grass, their heads popping up and down as they strutted.
A glimpse of orange in the Blackthorn, and a Stonechat popped up, as I admired another 6 came into view, 3 on the bushes the others on the fenceline. The males, females and youngsters all having different markings.
All the Hay Bales have now been removed from the fields, so the Hereford cattle will soon be taking a stroll across, grazing the aftermaths, but for today just a Roe Deer partaking on the recently cut vegetation.
Still a smattering of wildflowers, including both types of Knapweed, the Greater Knapweed having bigger flowers and ‘frilly’ leaves while the Black (or Lesser) Knapweed has thin leaves.
Some pink Red Clover and yellow round heads of Hop Trefoil, alongside an odd Pale Flax, while the single yellow flowers of Rough Hawksbit poking up in the meadows.
Blackcaps (and the browncapped females) flitting through the hips lades Dog Rose where a Common Whitethroat also perched.