A very dull grey and calm early patrol, the sea flat with little activity except a flurry of Guillemots skimming low across in an easterly direction. The white faces making them look quite different at this time of year, with longer beaks and larger heads and necks – it amazes me what a small colour change like this can make the eyes and mind see!
The mild night produced 16 species of moths in the trap including the expected Large Yellow Underwings, Lunar Underwings and Beaded Chestnut. 2 Black Rustic appeared, one of my favourite autumn moths, while Green Brindled Crescent, Feathered Thorn and a slightly early November Moth also arrived. A few Pipistrelle Bats were also attracted by the light flitting through the avenue between the Holm Oaks.
Above Long Meadow a constant passage of overhead movement being recorded by local sounds recordists. Their list including 2 Starlings, large flocks of Goldfinches, a few Greenfinches, many Linnets, Pied Wagtails and a few Swallows.
More surprising was the 4 Tawny Owls calling and the views of a displaying male Sparrowhawk followed by a female.
In the bushes around the Castle a flock of Goldcrests flitted through the branches, a close inspection of the group provided views of a Firecrest as well, the white cheek catching my eye.
A Green Woodpecker took flight from the ground, a quick yaffling burst of noise as it went, while a little later a Great Spotted Woodpecker circling over my head then landed in amongst a large clump of Blackthorn scrub, not the most comfortable bush to perch in I’d have thought.
Dangling in long rope-like fronds from the trees are the red berries of Black Bryony, while the red Haws are still covering the Hawthorn.