Another grey but calm day. I set out from the Reservoir Copse where the trees stand eerily still; only the slight movement of leaves in the canopy where the Robin’s tweet. A Buff-tailed Bumblebee whizzes through.
I step through to Skipworth Meadow, silhouettes of Jackdaw in the sky. Bright orange Stinking Iris berries stand out in the mist: I can only just make out the ridge of Ballard down in the distance. This splash of colour colour is echoed on the cow pats, which are decorated with tiny orange discs, Coprobia granulate Cow pat Gem.
Occasionally, the odd late-season flower stands out amongst the grass; Selfheal, Rough Hawkbit, Field Scabious, and Red Clover.
A good showing of Shaggy Parasol through the Large Copse, alongside the fallen Black Pine needles and cones. More Robins, and the high-ptiched ‘Zee Zee Zee’ of a Goldcrest.
Redwing gather amongst the rougher ground in Saxon field. They move silently between the patches of Blackthorn and emergent Sycamore. Hidden from sight, a Dunnock’s high-pitched twiddling, the mellow slow-paced warbling from a Blackbird, and then the flash of a Bullfinch’s white rump as it swoops past.
I head down through Arable Field, towards a loud ‘Hee-Haw’ braying Donkey at Southerd Farm. Rooks call out loudly from the telegraph wires, so it takes a little focus to listen to the bird song amongst the scrub. Chaffinch, followed by Long-tailed Tits, which appear one by one with the comedically long-tails following behind. I then spot a tiny Firecrest; it’s flame less distinguished this time of year, but a bold contrast between the black and white stripes.
I head along the East West drove. Cheery red-faced Goldfinch gather along the hedges frosted with white flowers of Old Man’s Beard. Wren’s buzz all along this path, a Jay flies overhead, and Woodpigeons in the clouds. Lastly, a Black Redstart atop the Gallery at the Castle.