Extremely clear Grasshopper Warbler and Chiff Chaff calls as well as the sight of nets confirmed the bird ringers being on site. Beside the Centre a trio of Pied Wagtails made a fleeting visit. Robins and Great Tits and Wrens were briefly glimpsed from the scrub. After hearing the Raven eventually I saw it headed westward from the goat plot.
On the edge of the small copse an Ash trunk facing the sun drew my attention due to having a number of flies basking up it. I believed I identified Drone Flies which looked slightly like bees as they had amber either on their bodies or upon otherwise clear wings. One Red Admiral joined the basking insects whilst a Speckled Wood preferred the dappled shade.
Swallows were the greatest presence this morning having seen at least ninety hawking of the meadows. Whilst walking through tall wet grass I sent up hundreds of Crane flies which were clearly ideal food for our Swallows. From the scrub I caught sight and sound of Blackcaps and Chiff Chaffs in large numbers. Within Saxon filed from an island of scrub a pair of Stonechats perched on an Elder peaking above the Bramble, Gorse and Hemp Agrimony. A few flowers upon the Gorse and Hemp Agrimony gave some colour whilst our male Stonechat was most faded. Perched in its orb web a Garden Spider awaited some unsuspecting flying insect. Somewhere behind me near the small copse a Green Woodpecker called.
Within the large copse the Pines gently swayed in the wind with a gentle hum sounding as the wind passed through. When I stepped out into the sun south facing side of the Large Copse in Boys Brigade I was surprised at their being a good dozen Red Admirals on this edge. Likewise a few Large Whites flitted about whilst Hoverflies and Bees visited Evergreen Ivy in hope that some flowers were open.