The first of September bringing an Autumnal feel to the early morning, the light a little lower, producing a more golden hue across the newly baled meadows, above which were sweeping a number of Swallows and Sand Martins.
A flutter amongst the uncut grass and a Silver-Y moth emerged, and as I looked more closely a Stripe-winged Grasshopper clung to the stem of a Tall Fescue grass.
This morning though my attention was mostly on the small birds flitting in amongst the bushes. A flock of Long-tailed Tits calling in the Gorse, spotted after a bit of a wait, but during that time I was able to enjoy brief views of a male Blackcap (mostly greyish with a black cap on hie head), and a fairly yellow Chiffchaff.
Then from the haw laden Hawthorn a flash of orangy-red, and a Redstart was spotted, the bright chest and as it turned the tail dipped up and down. One of my favourite birds, as I admired it a second Redstart appeared, a quick landing, squabble and then left.
Bounding across the field a Roe Deer, while by my feet the tell-tale evidence of Badgers, their purple latrines indicating the glut of Blackberries around at present.
From the Dog Rose a Spotted Flycatcher swooped to grab an insect before returning to it prickly perch, its speckled chest, and dark eye and beak, a couple of the features to look out for.
A rose with red berries and a slightly appley smell, possibly a Sweet Briar, a plant that was pointed out by a visitor yesterday.
A few flowers still the enjoy, including the occasional yellow flowers of Agrimony and Ladies Bedstraw, plus the purple of Black Knapweed, the lilac of Small Scabious and the white of Burnet Saxifrage and Wild Carrot – none of these are numerous though!
A tinkle of Goldfinches, plus a Garden Warbler and a Cirl Bunting added to my morning’s enjoyment