The early morning was surprisingly chilly as I took a patrol across the National Nature Reserve, the grey sky producing a very clear horizon and some wonderful light effects.
The cattle are now grazing in the fields near the Learning Centre, their mooing heard as I walked towards them. The Honey Bees by the gate barely moving at this time in the morning while flying about, in an almost direct line was a small stream of Common Wasps, aiming for their nest hidden amongst the Brambles.
Overhead the loud croak of a Raven, the dark shape gliding across the sky whilst a flock of Meadow Pipits were heading eastwards their calling heard first, followed by views as they moved closer.
The bounty of Blackberries is being eaten, not only by humans, but by the wildlife as well, as can be spotted from the large piles of purple seed filled Badger poo deposited in their latrines and the purple bird poo splattered on gates and walls!
At the junction of 3 fields a path of Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Old Man’s Beard and Ivy hedgerow was being used by flocks of small birds including Blackcaps, their greyish colouration and black or brown caps making them easy to identify. Flitting amongst them were some Chiffchaffs which were much less obvious and some noisy Blue Tits and Great Tits. However I was drawn to watching the antics of the Long-tailed Tits as they hung upside down feeding on the berries, then flying before starting again.
The ride between a dry-stone wall and the hedge was a great place to sot more birds with a flock of Chaffinches, Blackbird and Dunnock as well as groups of Swallows swooping up and down it.
In the fields the yellow flowers of Fleabane are still showing well, along with Rough Hawkbit, the odd Ragwort and spikes of Agrimony. Adding purple splashes are Greater Knapweed and the deeper coloured Selfheal, with the paler lilac of Small Scabious and Field Scabious showing in places.
The other autumn flowers of Carline Thistle and Autumn Ladies Tresses, still in bloom although I am yet to discover any of the Autumn Gentian this year.
Last night in the drizzle I watched a Tawny Owl flying gently across in front on me, and during my brief sojourn I also saw a couple of Pipistrelle Bats flying around the road edge.