A super early morning, a distinct chill in the air as I began my walk. To my right a rustling in the dead leaves and the long nose of a Common Shrew was poking out. This tiny creature twitch the end, whiskers moving, then bounded up from the leaves and disappeared in amongst the clump of grasses (including Tor Grass, Tall Fescue and Cocksfoot).
Much of the ground now various shades of brown and yellow as many of the plants have died off or turned to seed. Tall stems of Agrimony are covered in their conical shaped seeds – topped with sticky Velcro-like hooks, ideal to catch onto an unsuspecting carrier – be it Fox, Dog or human socks and boot laces!
I stood on the top of the downland, looking across the greeny-brown slopes to the bright blue sea where white crests were churning.
Whizzing past, from west to east were hundreds of birds, this constant stream comprising of Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins. Standing on my vantage point, it was relatively easy to see the differences between them, including the white rumps of the House Martins.
Perched on the bare ground of the ridge, some small birds, the bright sunshine causing them to be silhouettes only, and blustery wind making binoculars difficult to control, when they took off some of their song caught my ear. The snatches of sound, and the shape enabled me to be fairly confident they were Meadow Pipits!
The rust coloured back of a Roe Deer, visible just above the uncut grasses, one of the antlers of this male is distinctively kinked, so recognisable. Later, a female Roe Deer was spotted lying on the side of the rock face, looking as if she was admiring the view!
A bright yellow patch of Fleabane providing some colour, while a few Red Clover flowers and Wild Carrot are still blooming.
The sight of the Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea – paler than earlier in the year – living up to its name.