The highlight for the morning came very early on my patrol as I walked near the large copse the high pitched ‘seep’ of Redwings was wafting down from the foreboding skies. A flock was eventually located heading across, this my first of the autumn.
A little later a very good view of the Goldcrests as they called loudly from the branches and needles of the Black Pines, the gold stripe along their heads flashing as they moved.
Some bright berries adding colour to the greyness, with the orange berries of Stinking Iris bursting out, while the European Spindle is providing a small pink berries to the hedgerow array.
Possibly the most surprising sight of the morning was in Jack Baiss meadow where a yellow flower was just in bloom, on inspection this was a Cowslip, not usually found in bloom at this time of year.
More usual was the scraggy purple flowers of the Greater Knapweed, and the occasional pale Field Scabious while along the hedgerow a Herb Robert was sprouting and by the gateway Charlock reared its head.
The sound of a cackling flock of Jackdaws ensured I looked skyward to where they were flying, nothing untoward spotted, they just seemed to be enjoying the flying experience!
In the berry laden Hawthorn a few Redwings were perched, allowing a good view of the pale stripe above their eye, in the same bush was a dark Blackbird.
Just outside the window a large Buff-tailed Bumble Bee, moved about the pink flowers of the Escallonia.
Reports this morning of a young Badger with an injury or illness, a search of the area failed to locate as of yet.