A much more late-August feel to the weather, with cloud and a bit of a wind, what a delight. As I took a stroll around the meadows, checking the area that had been cut and those that have been left I was accompanied by small birds popping up from amongst the bushes, including the Robin, Dunnock and Blue Tit, as well as a flock of Long-tailed Tits who were hanging and swinging amongst the rambling stems of the Black Bryony and Wild Clematis.
Patches of Red Bartsia (which is more dull pink) growing along the edges of the path with the bright yellow Fleabane flowers behind, their petals tightly packed around the centre, while Ragwort has much looser grouping of yellow petals.
The white umbellifer flower of Wild Carrot are mostly smaller than earlier in the year, while a few scattered Greater Knapweed and Black Knapweed are still blooming purple.
A great view of a Common Whitethroat as it perched in the berry laden Elder, the copper coloured side catching the light.
At my feet a patch of yellowy-green plant, crouching down I looked for the specialist Shieldbug that lives on the Bastard Toadflax, but found neither the red nymph nor the blue bug. However I did spot my fist Autumn Ladies Tresses of the year, the greyish green stem dotted in a spiral with white flowers -this is our last orchid of the season.
Near the old quarr, a chirp made me search a patch of Blackthorn through binoculars and I was rewarded with 2 Goldfinches, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Common Whitethroat and 1 Meadow Pipit all at once in the same round view as they stood on the dead twigs of a Hawthorn.
However I was drawn away by the flitter of a Cirl Bunting as it landed on the tops of the Bramble, the stripey head giving its identity away.
The two different colour yellows of the flower of the Common Toadflax contrasting, while the feathery looking leaves make it quite east to spot.
A Hummingbird Hawk-moth fluttering inside the hide, eventually leaving through the open window.