An Autumnal feel this morning which meant a green and fresh appearance to the vegetation. A Green Woodpecker flew ahead of the car on then dove towards Boys Brigade, another appear near the pedestrian crossing then two flew away from me as I approached the Centre.
From the cover of a “spinning jenny laden” Field Maple a Black Bird’s song rung forth. The wind made branches in the Small Copse sway. Today’s insects consisted of Aphids upon Thistle stems and a Bumble Bee which visited a rain wash Knapweed flower whose petals drooped down.
We had at least (as the cup overflowed) 25mm rainfall since 9am yesterday. Despite that both droves were firm under foot, however, Sycamore corner is Saxon was inevitably wet. A pause here reveal a family of at least five Long Tailed Tits flitting about. At this pint several Great Tits also put in an appearance.
Within the Upper Gully there was plenty of bird flitting. I believe I saw a rather pale juvenile Brambling. What at first appeared to be a Wren flitting between sward and bracken turned out to be a rather small young Chiff Chaff. Eight Acres of course gave be a Skylark experience with two briefly overlapping singing from up high on the wing. A Burdock showed some purple (to me) flowers at the gateway. Up the East West Drove all was quiet but Snail shell remains suggest a Song Thrush had amply anvil activity there!
There are still flowers a plenty to be seen, I was most impressed with the regrowth upon the grazed area of Saxon Field. Although short there were fresh Ox Eye Daisies as well as Eye Bright, Self-Heal Scabious, Wild Carrot, Horseshoe Vetch and Agrimony. The margins were still decorated with Tufted Vetch flowers which climbed the scrub. The quarry mounds of Round Down had patches of Medic and Wild Thyme. It was at this point that I caught the briefest glance of the passage of what appeared as a grey bird of prey, possibly a Merlin.