Welcome to September and with it arrived a dull grey morning, with the sky just waiting to drop its cargo of rain.
As I began a Fox trotted across the grass ahead of me, a fairly pale colouration as it moved to disappear into the long grass, blending in really well.
Later as looked across one of the areas of uncut meadow, a Roe Deer was visible, the back and head a deep rusty brown colour showing up well against the similar grassy backdrop.
A pale pink flower head of Yarrow stood out, the small clumps of flowers all tightly together, a variation amongst the other white Yarrow flowers.
Dotted on one of the old quarry scar banks a patch of blue Devil’s-bit Scabious, the flower heads small and almost round, an obvious difference to the Small Scabious and the Field Scabious both of which can also be spotted on the Park.
The hay is now rolled into large round bales, on the top of a couple of these a Wheatear was spotted. The slightly bobbing movement characteristic of the species. As one took flight the brilliant white rump was shown making it easy to see, as it landed the sandy colour blended well with the top of the bale.
A few other signs of the Autumn migration as a Whinchat, was perched on a Blackthorn, the sloe berries of which were beginning to turn a deep purple.
Overhead a steady trickle of Swallows, generally heading east along the coastline.
A few more small birds included Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and a Grasshopper Warbler, plus a glimpse of a Blackcap as it disappeared into the scrub.
The Brambles have produced a bounty of Blackberries has been enjoyed by the Badgers as seen in the latrines!
As I peered at a patch of Red Bartsia, a Meadow Grasshopper jumper up, surprising me a tad, a Dark Bush-cricket was stood on the leaf of a Fleabane.