Masses of Swallows swooping all around this morning, hundreds counted as they criss-crossed the sky, chattering constantly as they moved, at one point 30 or so were perched on the aerial on the end of the building.
The ‘autumn’ migration continues with more Warblers to be discovered which included the Grasshopper Warbler, one of these was spotted as it disappeared into the thick Blackthorn scrub, the rounded tail the last part of this brown bird to disappear.
In amongst the rambling lengths of the Wild Clematis, another warbler raised its head, this with a Sedge Warbler with large white streak across its head, quite different from the yellowish Willow Warblers flitting between the bushes.
On the downs I watched a family of Stonechats, an orange breasted adult and at least 4 more speckled youngster. As I looked through my binoculars a bright tan coloured male Roe Deer walked into view, his antlers showing well.
Unfortunately this Deer was then spotted by a black spaniel type dog who then proceeded to chase it across the fields, on this occasion the dog did not catch the deer, this uncontrolled dog activity is what gives dogs and their owners a bad name, and why we require all dogs to be ‘on a lead if they are not under close control’ – and this one was not under close control!
A little later a female Roe Deer and her small fawn was spotted hidden in the grass.
Disturbed from the grass was a Meadow Brown and then a Marbled White, both a delight to see as was the Adonis Blue.
A selection of flowers now blooming with the pale lemon yellow of Common Toadflax showing against the darker yellow Fleabane and Ragwort.
Both Greater and Lesser Knapweed, Field Scabious, Small Scabious and the unusual Devil’s Bit Scabious providing blue / purple dots, while Agrimony, Restharrow, Red Bartsia and Hemp Agrimony are also still to be found.
A Redstart by the centre, a Green Woodpecker taking flight and a tiny Rabbit added more interest to my early patrol.