As the Sun rises, it casts a warm glow into the woodland alighting the trees. Dew glistens upon a feast of autumn fruits; the crimson Bryony berries which are draped through the understorey and orange Lords and Ladies which have burst open below.
There’s a breeze rolling through which rustles the leaves above me, and occasionally sends a large Sycamore leaf falling to the ground. A break in the canopy reveal the arrow shaped silhouettes of House Martins moving over against a clear blue sky. I can hear the tinkling of Goldfinch, the chirping from a Chiffchaff and the loud squawking from a Magpie.
Nearby, a disagreement breaks out between two Squirrels who chase one another around a Holm Oak. Claws scratch upon the tree trunk as they jostle in circles. The altercation becomes physical and all of a sudden they plummet to the ground. Unharmed, one of them quickly scuttles off into the undergrowth, whilst the other just stands looking a bit dazed!
I head down to Sunnydale following the woodchip path which is scattered with an even greater variety of leaves – Horse Chestnut, Beech, and Ash. Look up and you’ll find red berries decorate the Hawthorn and Yew: The latter of which. not technically a berry, but a single seed covered in a fleshy berry-like structure called an aril.
On my return up the coast path a flurry of Red Admirals break out into flight from basking on an old wall that bridges the path. Four of them in return along with a Peacock, to rest on the sun baked stones, wings spread wide and reflecting the colour of the Rosehips below.
At the listening seat a loud distinct call from a Kestrel. It settles atop a Black Pine, and shortly followed by the cause of its distress – a Crow perches nearby, knowingly annoying the smaller and frustrated Kestrel.