A quieter (people-wise) early morning patrol now the Bank Holiday weekend is over, and as I walked past a Hawthorn tree there was lots of movement as small birds flew from branch to branch, a flash of brown, the shape of a bill, all that could be seen amongst the lush green leaves – this flock was almost as if they were teasing me to guess a species – House Sparrow!
Toward the Lighthouse and a Raven passed overhead, a deep croak echoing around as it flew, the huge size, completely black colour and the distinctive wedge-shaped tail making it unmistakable.
Faster and more agile a few small groups, each of 10 or so, of Swallows spotted as they moved through the sky, possibly chasing a few airborne invertebrates as they went.
The strong southerly wind making the seaward slopes exposed, but as I dropped into the vale suddenly the bushes became alive with small birds.
In the dark understory of a patch of Blackthorn, a flash of red captured my attention as I watched male Redstart flitting up and down amongst the branches. The red front and black head both paler than the spectacular colours of the breeding season, but still super to see.
Moving through the fronds of the Wild Clematis a couple of Common Whitethroats and a Chiffchaff, while Willow Warblers and a Blackcap were spotted amongst the very prickly runners of the Burnet Rose.
Returning back through the meadows – most of which were cut yesterday as part of the annual haycutting cycle, a flock of Goldfinches and a group of Linnets looped across the lying grasses and up into the top of a short stunted Sycamore.
Clinging to the stem of a piece of Yorkshire Fog grass was a Common Blue, wings closed as it waited for warm sunshine, as I admired a Dark Bush-cricket wandered into view and a grey coloured Field Grasshopper jumped onto the stem of a Wild Carrot.