A feature of this morning was the constant flow of Swallows and House Martins and Sand Martins, across the sky, hundreds zipping along, whizzing through the gateways and out across the fields. However yesterday evening there were many many more of this hirundine mix, a spectacular sight in the evening sunlight.
Across the meadows to start, to check on the water supply to Taskers Meadow, where the Hereford herd of cattle will be mooving next. As I fiddled with the stopcock, a Common Shrew popped up nearby, its long nose twitching amongst the blades of green grass.
Squawking from the Copse was a Jay, a coarse calling as it took flight, the white rump showing as it flew, the sun catching the bright blue feathers on the wing as it left the clump of Black Pines.
A single spike of a Field Scabious poking above the grass, the pale lilac colour showing up against the greeny-brown, as was the dotted round heads of Red Clover and the couple of white flowers of Ox-Eye Daisy.
Fluttering alongside the thick hedgerow was a Red Admiral butterfly, a stark contrast of black, red and white. Also in flight were two Wall Brown butterflies, these both landing on one of the dry-stone walls – doing what their name says!
Popping out of the Blackthorn, a Chiffchaff, its eye-stripe visible as I looked through binoculars, the dull green-brown colour camouflaging itself in amongst the branches.
A tinkling sound from above, and a flock of 20 or so Goldfinches flew over, landing into the bare branches of a Sycamore tree.
A Wren was singing loudly from the base of the Brambles, as a couple of Robins were calling from opposing sides of the path.
Hovering above me, a fantastic Kestrel, just amazing to watch as their wings and tail quiver, keeping their head perfectly still whilst searching for movement of breakfast below.