After the powerful winds of last night, gusting 48mph at 1am, the Park was a little windswept but looking glorious in the early morning sunshine.
The sound of a Raven cronking as it flew, wind behind it across the skies, landing eventually in the tall Black Pines of the Large Copse.
A check on the repaired water leak looks hopeful, with luck the ground will now dry out before the real wet weather begins!
Around me the swooping Swallows whizzing about, a wonderful sight as these African migrants manoeuvred, their pale fronts and dark backs alternating as they flew.
The strong winds keeping most birds out of sight, but Dunnocks were conspicuous, the grey heads and dark brown streaked backs showing up as they flitted through the rambling ropes of the Wild Clematis, or to give it its other name Old Man’s Beard, the delicate pale yellow flowers still showing well, a strong waft of perfume coming off one or two.
Flitting through the Blackthorn scrub were 5 Stonechats, the pale orange fronts spotted as they moved.
Off to the downland where the Hereford Cattle are working hard munching on the rough grass of the slopes, helping to ensure that the area will be covered in lovely downland flowers next season.
Hopping around the feet of the Cattle were Jackdaws, grabbing beakfuls of insects and tufts of grass, flitting up with a high pitched call was a Yellow Wagtail.
At sea a Gannet soared eastwards, the long white wings catching the rays of the sunshine as it went, the black wing tips spotted as it wheeled.
The meadows are still providing a few flower blooms with Common Toadflax, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Ragwort, Fleabane, Rough Hawkbit and Agrimony all providing a variety of yellow flowers, while Red Bartsia, Red Clover and Marjoram a variety of pinks.
Sliding over the dry-stone wall was a great example of the Lapidary Snail Helicigona lapicida, which is fairly flat and has a distinctive ridge at its widest point.