Out to check the cattle, so giving my morning route a direction to head off into, and as I began the movement in the Blackberry laden Bramble bushes saw a Spotted Flycatcher emerge, then land on the highest most stem, before flitting off it and back on three or four times as I watched. The dark eye and flecked chest the tell-tale features, but the action the easiest identification characteristic.
As I adjusted the water trough, a Redstart perched on the Blackthorn scrub alongside, the red tail flicking up and down as it perched, before this super bird took flight to land on the Hawthorn nearby, the red tail standing out as it flew.
Disappearing into a mass of Old Man’s Beard a Grasshopper Warbler, the brown rounded end to the tail helping with it species name. It then emerged again to give me a better look at its streaky markings and longish looking bill.
Around me a scattering of white-headed flowers, mostly Wild Carrot, but also some Yarrow and some Burnet Saxifrage.
A Field Scabious flower, on its tall stem, now very pale having lost the lilac colour.
Moving around in the apple laden branches of one of the Apple trees was a Blackcap, as I watched another two joined it, one of which was capped with a brown rather than black.
The bare branches of a dead Elder tree were silhouetted against the grey sky, with a Tree Pipit perched on one of the spurs. As I walked further, a Meadow Pipit emerged from the longer grass so allowing a comparison (in my mind!)
A flutter from a large patch of Ivy saw a Red Admiral take flight and then return to its sheltered patch.
At my feet a Dark Bush-cricket hopped onto the leaf of a Stinking Iris, while as I continued, a Meadow Grasshopper and a Field Grasshopper were disturbed, showing themselves with a quick leap before hiding again amongst the rough grass.
Overhead a group of Swallows were enjoying the calm weather – perhaps they too are expecting the forecast storm later.