A very grey morning, rain dripping from the sky, and puddles on the ground, turning the bare earth to mud in places.
In the Blackthorn hedge a flurry of chuckling and squawking as Song Thrushes were in discussion with each other. Their speckled chests just visible in the gloom of the morning.
Nearby Blackbirds were taking centre stage, the plumage more brown than black, their beaks without the bright yellow colour, many of these will be visitors from afar, perhaps Scandinavia.
The Hereford cattle are now in Smithfield and Boys Brigade meadows, where on the ground were a couple of black and white Pied Wagtails, strutting through the grass, tail flicking up and down.
Ahead of me along the hedgerow a Jay was in flight, only its white rump visible to start, followed by a flash of blue from its wings at it turned. The flight pattern of a Jay always seems very light to me, almost flying without effort, so different to the powerful rapid beats of the Wood Pigeons.
A Sparrowhawk gliding across the grey sky, jinking as it changed direction, allowing great views of its almost stripey underbelly, another jink and the dark brown back showed, what a great bird.
In the grass a purple flower head of the Greater Knapweed, while a little later the dull pink sphere of a Red Clover was spotted.
Along some sheltered walls Ivy-leaved Toadflax has taken up residence, the long dangling stems sporting a delicate lilac coloured flower.
A quick check to see how our fencing contractor has go on along the coast path, the old fence has been taken down all along the downland fields, to be replaced. This replacement will keep the cattle in place reducing their capacity to escape into the car parks or Swanage!
While there some Field Blewits noted amongst the grass and a bright yellow waxcap fungi- species yet to be verified!