It was another good morning for Gatekeeper butterflies, I found it hard to differentiate between the dark upper winged female and Meadow Browns. I had one Red Admiral upon Hemp Agrimony, and two Speckled Wood were spotted between an Ash and Field Maple. In a few places occasional ripe Blackberries and Elderberries were spotted as well as the poisonous fruits of Black Bryony and Bittersweet.
Amongst the Eye Bright, Quaking Oat Grass, and the odd Centaury and Ox Eye Daisy I found Autumn Ladies Tresses. I was delighted to find two, stems, by Saxon’s Hay Rake Quarr. It was a Kestrel that passed over the meadows after a spiral ascent.
Bulbous Woolly Thistle heads held “wig” like flower petals upon their crowns. Today I headed out to check Haysom & Arable Fields as we will be moving the cattle to them. Unfortunately, a leaking water pipe had triggered this need. Arable Meadow has long since become a meadow, predominantly grasses, however, White and Red Clovers, Red Bartsia, Hops Vetch, White Borage, Horseshoe Vetch, Tufted Vetch and unfortunately Bristly Ox Tongue and Horsetails. I checked that the water trough was working and opened / closed gates ready for the cows, on Wednesday.
Ravens, two, were heard before being seen. Upon reaching the electric fence-line, the bird with a large insect in its beak was a Yellowhammer. It flew off with another following.
I couldn’t be certain, but I thought I heard the waffle of a Green Woodpecker. Upon passing the Small Copse I was luckily to see a Green Woodpecker depart and fly eastward.