A thick fog covering the country park this morning with not a breath of wind to disturb the layer of grey.
Trailing across and between the various twigs and branches of the Blackthorn and Bramble scrub were cobwebs galore. These showing up due to the beadlets of water captured from the air producing a different light reflection. It really makes you realise just how many must normally be about that are never noticed. Most of the webs produced by Orb web spiders but very few of the actual creatures were showing.
Overhead the calling of a flock of Pied Wagtails, their distinctive sound enabling identification from afar, eventually they came close enough to be made out, their long tails and undulating flight easily seen through binoculars.
A few Meadow Pipits also in flight, and more disturbed from amongst the Hereford Cattle, who are to be found grazing the meadows for the moment.
Last night’s moth trap captured a good selection of species, including the Black Rustic, one of the few black moths we see, also the many Sectaceous Hebrew Characters, Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwings and Feathered Brindles, plus a Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing, Frosted Orange, and the Delicate. Our fairly new autumn speciality the Oak Rustic also appeared as did the Sombre Brocade.
The bushes are still covered in berries with the Hawthorns a mass of deep red, upon which a number of Blackcaps were again feasting alongside Blackbirds.
Along the coast the blobs of web of the Brown Tail Caterpillar are standing out against the brown leafless Blackthorn, while perched on top were a Stonechats. The white collar on one showing up well, while on another it was the white flash on the wings that caught the eye.
Low to the ground a few splashes of purple to be seen, the Stemless Thistle and the Black Knapweed, while the yellow flowers of Common Cat’s-ear and Rough Hawkbit are spread across both the downland and the fields.