Can’t believe it’s the 1st October already!
At this time last year we had an inundation of Red Admirals, with 50+ seen on single bushes, today I was happy with just one basking on the green heart-shaped leaf of Ivy. Nearby a Wall Brown was also to be seen, fluttering in a circle before landing on the wispy flower of the Old Man’s Beard, to show off the delicate black pattern and eye spot.
With the gorgeous sunny morning Swallows were swooping left & right and up and down, just wonderful. As I stood hidden alongside a clump of Gorse (still a few yellow flowers on it) the Swallows were so close it was impossible to focus as the swept past. In amongst these a few white rumps of House Martins also spotted as were a scattering of Sand Martins.
As I perching on ‘Jane’s’ Bench, a flock of small Warblers was moving between the Brambles, Holm Oak and Blackthorn, the constant flitting making identification difficult, but eventually a Garden Warbler stayed still long enough, as did some Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.
Later a flock of Blackcaps were making life awkward (it seemed), also not allowing their distinctive caps to be spotted with effort.
Rising from the clumps of rough Tor Grass, were lots of Crane Flies, their long spindly legs and thin bodies catching the light as they moved. Which particular species of Cranefly, I haven’t bothered to discover!
Trotting along the hedgeline a Fox, the pale rusty colour shining in the sunlight as it moved. A flock of Meadow Pipits emerged from in front of it, calling as they travelled.
As I watched a Large White butterfly waft across the blue sky, a group of Chaffinches landed on the tall Blackthorns, and a Yellowhammer flitted up from the grass to join them. The rusty rump catching my attention as the Yellowhammer flew.