A grey overcast morning with dampness in the air, but still fantastic views across to the Isle of Wight. The water in between flat, grey and quiet but adding a splash of excitement to it was a short string of glorious Gannets. These huge birds skimming the water, the brilliant white wings of the adults easily spottable, while the youngsters are more a mottled brown.
In the woodland strange noises were coming from the trees, these were eventually tracked down to two Carrion Crows in conversation which clicks, wheezes and cackles at the top of the Macrocarpa.
On the ground nearby a beautifully marked Jay was turning the squishy leaves as was a male Blackbird.
Moving through the Privet and Hazel hedgerow was a flock of Tits, the Great Tits with dark stripes down the chests, Blue Tits and the Long-tailed Tits. A sprinkling of Goldfinches arrived in amongst the Wild Parsnip, Woolly Thistle and Bristley Ox-tongue.
Despite the recent drowning in the meadows are still blooming with Tufted Vetch, Wild Carrot and Greater Knapweed contrasting with the now brown grasses – Golden Oat Grass, Timothy, Crested Dog’s Tail, Cocksfoot and Wall Barley.
In amongst the fields a Roe Deer was standing facing me, the bright rust coloured pelage standing out, but as I looked around the field the tall stems of the dead Sorrel were much the same colour. This male Roe Deer looked a little strange as it only had one antler.
Across the grass a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle lumbered, the round body coloured black but tinged with green and purple. This fairly round beetle in marked contrast to the speedy narrow ground beetle Nebria brevicollis which scuttled across in front of me. Sliming about also were orange skirted Slugs and Garden Snails.
Overhead a flock of Swifts whizzed about, while Swallows swooped past and a Kestrel hovered.
Clouded Yellow, Meadow Brown and Red Admiral butterflies.