A grey morning – haven’t had many of those over the last few months – and a breezy westerly, encouraged me towards the downland. As I begun a patch of low-growing Restharrow caught my eye, the pink and white flowers still showing well, as was the blob of yellow from the pea flowers of the Bird’s-foot Trefoil.
Nearby the tinkling call of a charm of Goldfinches, the bright golden wing flashes showing up, but on closer inspection a couple of Greenfinches were also noted amongst the flock, a slightly chunkier build and differing flashes!
Perched on the broken stem of a vicious looking Burnet Rose (masses of thorns along the stem) was a Stonechat, the male’s dark head and orange chest a bit of a contrast to the more streaky brown of the females and juveniles sitting nearby.
The Brambles, covered in blackberries, a good place to watch the movement of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, as they hopped between the branches. Meanwhile in the Pear a chestnut capped Blackcap perched.
The Herefords are munching around in field 6 and 6a, a quick check, difficult to count as they are well spread. However flitting overhead in a looping movement were two Yellow Wagtails, which then landed in the grass amongst the cattle.
As I continued a Yellowhammer popped up from the ground to land in on the Gorse bush just in front of me – a fantastic view of this bright yellow headed bird.
Across the fields, where the baling is complete and mostly moved to the collection site, I clambered (perhaps in a slightly ungainly manner!) onto the bale to count the others. As I did this, a Wheatear was stood two bales d17.0own, bobbing its tail up and down, as it took off a flash of white from its rump, landing a little further along.
In the scrub a group of Carrion Crows were causing a ruckus, cawing loudly to each other, disturbing the branches, and the quiet of the morning!