Another strangely calm morning as I took my patrol towards the woods. The cackle and chuntering of a couple of Magpies as they perched in the branches of the English Oak, the leaves of which have turned brown.
Appearing from amongst the Dogwood a Blackcap, a great view of its dark black cap as it looked out from between the yellow leaves. Singing from the branches of the Japanese Spindle a Robin while a Blackbird landed on the grass, poking about for invertebrates.
As I admired a bright yellow patch of Fleabane, the buzzing of a Drone Fly caught my attention as did the gently moving wings of a Speckled Wood butterfly which was sitting on the leaves of the Viburnum.
The delicate pick globules of the European Spindle now out, a double head when closely examined!
Flitting between the branches of the Beech a small flock of Tits, the Blue Tits and Great Tits leading the way, while the Long-tailed Tits followed more slowly. It is always a pleasure to watch these pink, black and white balls as they dangle and wobble, their long tails acting as balances.
The high pitched call of a Goldcrest made me look upwards, to see this tiny bird in the canopy of the Field Maple, very hard work on the neck to get the binoculars high enough to see easily!
However, as I lowered my bins a flash a red appeared on the trunk of the Ash, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, red trousers and black and white.
Last night a good number of Pipistrelle Bats out and about, we have Bat Training course taking place so hopefully they will be reporting other species as well.
My highlight however, was an unexpected green light in the grass, as a Glow-worm was spotted lighting my way in the darkness – these amazing beetles not often still about in October.