A fantastic flock of Goldfinches started my day off well, the tinkling as they fluttered overhead difficult to mistake and then as they landed altogether in the Ash tree their gold, reds and whites flashing in the light.
In the tops of the Sycamore tiny birds were flitting, their rapid movement making them very awkward to identify, eventually after much neck straining some of them turned out to be Goldcrests a short flash of gold on the tops of their heads, while others were Chiffchaffs, when perched together the size difference was obvious!
Along one of the berry laden hedgerows a couple of Willow Warblers, alongside a Chaffinch, Robin, Dunnock and Blackbird, all feasting on the bountiful insects and fruits.
At the bottom of the hedge Stinking Iris plants were showing vividly, the bright orange berries bursting open the large buff coloured seed pods. These combine with the fat purple Sloes on the Blackthorn, the small black berries of Privet and Wild Madder and the round red berries of Black Bryony which are suspended in ropes across the gaps between the branches and the Brambles to produce the bounty.
My route this morning took me around some of the meadows we will be grazing soon, looking at the gates, the water, the fencing, the hedges and the escape points listing some of the jobs for the next couple of weeks.
The grass around the fields very wet and thick but in amongst a few flowers still to be spotted including a couple of tufts of Tufted Vetch, small yellow heads of Black Medic, pea like flowers of the Birds Foot Trefoil and the tall(ish) purple Sealheal.
Gliding along the edge of the Blackthorn scrub was a Sparrowhawk, providing a wonderful view of this bird of prey as it passed really close to me. A little later a Kestrel rose into the sky, hovering for a short time before heading towards the copse to perch in a Field Maple.
As I returned towards the centre Swallows were sweeping overhead, over 100 counted in a blink of the eye!