Bank Holiday Monday and with it our harvest is underway. The Meadows having been cut are now being turned ready for baling.
As the tractor trundles around the fields, I spot a charm of Goldfinches in one of the stands of grass that have been left uncut – one of many providing habitats for those dislodged by the haycut.
Fluttering from the ground a Meadow Brown butterfly, along with a Small Heath, while a Common Blue adjusts itself on the Tall Fescue stem to get the best position in the sun.
Around the corner and two Greenfinches jostled for the top of an almost dead Hawthorn branch, at one point both of these quite chunky birds, clinging to the stem in the same spot!
The whistling squeak of a Bullfinch drew my ear towards the edge of scrub where one of these superb birds was perched, a bright pink front and black and grey head and back.
Although admiring the Bullfinch, the corner of my eye was attracted by more movement within an Elder bush, here a Willow Warbler was hopping amongst the branches.
As I turned a flash red and a bird landed on the Wayfaring Tree, but right in front of the sun so just a silhouette, but the tail flicking and shape hinted at a Redstart. A few moments later I was able to enjoy this bird as it took flight and landed the other side of me allowing fantastic views of this flashy male. A grey back and orange front.
On the purple flowers of some Greater Knapweed a Red Admiral butterfly sat, wings open, as a Small White flutter by, the dark grey markings on its white wing noticeable.
Clambering over the stone stile I perched for a while to watch Chaffinches, Common Whitethroats and a Wren. It is always interesting to see the differences between the birds – colours and shapes and movements, even for these common easily seen birds.
Across the very brown grass the lumbering shape of a Greater Bloody-nose Beetle, the round body, moving like clockwork. Bursting from the undergrowth a Grasshopper Warbler, a quick view before it disappeared back into the brambles.