A wonderful sun mottled early morning to the out and about, some of the leaves have started to turn golden and red on the Dogwood and Spindle a precursor of what is to come in the next few weeks.
The constant sound of birds accompanied my walk, with the twitter coming from the many flocks of Swallows plus a few House Martins flitting overhead.
The tinkle of Goldfinches flashing across the sky before they dropped into the top of a wind-swept Hawthorn. Also passing overhead were many Yellow Wagtails and some Pied Wagtails, the shape the same but calls and colours different.
At the stone bridge I spent a fantastic if annoying few minutes, trying to see the different birds, it seemed a little like being in the rainforest with sounds all around and quick flashes of bird as they disappeared in amongst the foliage. However 5 Blackcaps perched on an almost leafless Blackthorn bush, this group comprised of 2 black capped and 3 brown capped birds, their grey bodies showing well.
A few Chiffchaffs flitting in the leaves of the Wild Clematis, their pale eye stripes catching the light as they moved. The white flashes of the wings of a Chaffinch, flitted past followed soon after by the some more.
Blue Tits were also in evidence hidden in the branches of the Brambles, moving in and out.
A few wildflowers are still in bloom including a superb Woolly Thistle, the purple head almost immaculate. Look out for the white headed Yarrow, the deep blue of Small Scabious and the pink of Centuary. A bright yellow flower of Yellowwort alongside the dull purple of Wild Clary and the very dull yellow-brown Ploughman’s Spikenard.
Yesterday evening 2 Badgers were trotting and snuffling along the edge of the woods, these black and white creatures surprisingly difficult to see even when you can hear them. Pipistrelle Bats were moving along the rides between the trees.
On the Ivy flowers the buzzing of the Ivy Bee, plus queen Red-tailed Bumble Bee and Buff-tailed Bumble Bee. A Red Admirla and a Speckled Wood basked alongside.