Driving in a small brown animal about the size of a Labrador runs across the road. The Muntjac does to jump over the wall but stops resting its front legs on the top of the wall looking round before committing to the jump and disappearing through a whole is the larger wall the other side. A strange looking deer with small antlers and a squat hunched over like frame.
Parking a Jay peck around in the recent brush cut verges giving me a wonderful view of its bright colourful plumage. Taking these first to sighting as good omens I head out into the meadows without my waterproofs.
The loud alarm call of a Wren pulls my attention to a large path of brown Bracken all slumped over. The small bird hops along the stem of one of the slumped over plants tiny tail waggling in the air. An ominous black cloud approaches from the west as I slip and slide my way through a muddy gateway.
Heading back towards the learning centre getting soaked, I duck into the bird hide to hide until the shower had passed. Great Tits and Blue Tits flit back and forth from a Buddleia to the feeders. Chaffinch joins the feast below the feeder, enjoying the seed the birds above knock off the feeder. A lone Dunnock joins the several Chaffinch below the feeder.
Venturing out of the hide, and into south field a large flock of Carrion Crows form almost orderly rows in the field as they peck there way through old cow pats. Another shower crashes through, so I take that as a sign to head back.