Greeting me as I walked across the camp grass to inspect a hole were numerous Slugs, mostly made up of the two very similar species Arion ater and Arion rufus, both large, brown with a fringe around its base. Today they were feeding on the debris left over people and dogs so doing a good job!
Clambering along the long leaves of Ribwort Plantain was a another long bodied creature, this one the 3” long, hairy ginger and black Fox Moth caterpillar, while nearby on the edge of the scrub was a yellow Pale Tussock caterpillar, a fantastic specimen with 4 tufts looking like little yellow brushes and a red spike.
Overhead the Swallows were again most noticeable as were a few flocks of Wood Pigeon, these birds perhaps beginning their autumn migration as well.
Flashing past my binoculars, as I admired a flock of Chiffchaffs in the Hawthorn, was a dark brown coloured Sparrowhawk, silent as it moved in contrast to the noisy flitting of the Blue Tits and Great Tits within the bushes.
The low squeak of a Bullfinch brought this spectacular bird to my attention, I then spent a few minutes watching the males and females as they flew around and through the Brambles and Blackthorn. The stunning pink breast and jet black head and grey sides of the male contrasting with the bright white rump and on close inspection the beak looks stubbier than many other finches.
A few flowers still to be spotted including the Greater Knapweed providing the odd purple splash amongst the greens, the pale lilac is likely to be Field Scabious, or if you are on the downs possible Small Scabious. In the meadows still Rough Hawkbit, Wild Carrot and Yarrow in bloom alongside the square stemmed Selfheal.
The occasional yellow spike of Agrimony is flowering alongside the seed-heads of this plants, the seeds have small hooks which like to make it their duty to attach to trousers, socks, laces and dogs!
Seeping from above the plaintive call of flocks of Pied Wagtails, along with the tinkling of Goldfinches, Chaffinches and a few Linnets.