An interesting early morning for a patrol with heavy showers passing regularly, but between these a number of charms of Goldfinches tinkling overhead, their yellow wings flashing in light. Other movements overhead included Chaffinches, Pied Wagtails and Swallows all identifiable by shape and sound – their colours impossible to see against the dull grey backdrop.
The noisy yaffle of a Green Woodpecker as it took flight across the field, disappearing as it landed in the long grass. The cackling of Jackdaws as they swooped around in a large group caught my attention, a Peregrine Falcon then emerged from behind them but without the menace of chasing them they took little notice.
The loud squawking of 2 Jays as they argued in the woodland, where a Grey Squirrel was bounding between the branches of a Willow.
The hedgerows are full of berries at the moment, with the bright pink segmented berries of Spindle providing a great blast of colour, while the reds of Rosehips, Hawthorn and Black Bryony provide food and colour.
Lower down the orange berries of the exploded pods of Stinking Iris catch the attention as does the bright green leaves of Harts-tongue Fern.
As the sun appeared for a moment a few insects took advantage with the large furry Drone Fly and the Ivy Bee, colletes hedera, both on the flower of Ivy, while a Red Admiral fluttered onto the Blackberries. Slowly making its way across the short turf a huge - well 2" long - Fox Moth caterpillar, all brown and hairy.