Opening the boot of my car to let Fern out, her ears immediately prick, I turn to see what she’s seen, to get a glimpse of a Roe Deer running past the Learning Centre.
Heading out the Learning Centre, the twinkling of Goldfinch pulls my attention into the hide. The are gathered in a Buddleia before lifting as one and coming to rest by the pond for a collective drink. Great Tits flit in all directions, while the bird ringers set up their kit below.
Sycamore leaves are turning shades of browns and yellows and curling in on themselves. The tips of Blackthorn most exposed to the wind are already bare of its leaves. Fluffy Oldman’s Beard smothers the tops of large patches of Blackthorn.
Small pops of colour poke out of the dull green grass; a lone Buttercup clings to its last remaining flower as the seasons change the weather. Knapweed also clings on to its repainting park purple petals are the changing weather tries to take them away.
House Martins, Swifts and Swallows sit along the telephone wire across the gully, taking a well-deserved rest before the long journey back to Africa. They take off as one and zoom off in directions in pursuit of food. They duck and dive over the gully some swopping low above my head as I make my way up the light house road. On the ridge above me a Roe buck glowers down at me and Fern.
Two Cirl Bunting also perch on a lower telephone wire before flying off and disappearing into some scrub.