Tiny dry brown husks
Of once beautiful flowers
Their eyes are closed now
A very attractive red sun graced the sky this morning, framed nicely by a few wispy cumulous clouds. I entered the park through Long Meadow, looking a lot more sedate now autumn is in full swing. A few splashes of colour from Red Clover and late Blackberry blossom brightened the scene, and the rugged yellows of Rough Hawkbit maintained a presence near the Overflow Car Park.
Chiffchaffs and Chaffinches were calling beside the Learning Centre, with numerous Swallows still wheeling overhead. Hawthorn trees laden with berries provided welcome refreshment to those on the wing.
Setting out towards the Large Copse, I walked past hedges lined with Old Man’s Beard. Oak, Sycamore and Ash were all browning nicely, and the path underfoot was littered with their discarded leaves.
Saxon Field was littered with Fleabane, no longer flowering, as well as a few Field Mushrooms and the odd Field Scabious flower. I searched the area for traces of Eyebright, but nothing remained but dried up stems. I’ll have to wait another year to see them again, but it’ll be worth it. Further into the park, I caught a brief glimpse of a Wren, darting into the fronds of a Dog Rose in the hedgerow. Also spotted was an unidentified puffball mushroom, quite possibly a Common Puffball.
Returning to the Learning Centre, I walked past a stubby Blackthorn bush supporting the distinctive silken “tent” of a Brown Tailed Moth cluster. Don’t touch these structures or you’ll get a nasty rash from the caterpillar hairs embedded in them. Overhead, a few charms of Goldfinches fluttered from tree to tree, their vivid plumage a bright flash of yellow amongst the background of greens and browns.
Also passing overhead was a Shag, embarking on an uncharacteristic landward flight. I followed its rapid flaps through my binoculars as it curved away and headed back out to sea. It feels good to go back to where you belong.