A chilly start to the morning patrol, with the moon still a wispy white in the western sky and the sun a golden orb in the east.
Flying across the sky was a flock of Chaffinches, their wing flashes white as they went past, another flock of birds flashed gold as they too went by, this being a group of 20+ Goldfinches.
The sudden squawk of a Jay captured my attention, the white rump showing as it floated by and as it banked its underside also showing a flash of white.
A wander across the farmland where a few flowers are still blooming, these include a splodge of purple from the Greater Knapweed, many yellow heads of the Rough Hawkbit, many of whom were closed up, a few yellow Ragwort flowers and some White Clover.
Along the hedgerows the brilliant orange berries of Stinking Iris caught my attention, the open triangular shape very distinctive. Rambling along the top of the bushes the Old Man’s Beard providing a mass of white wispy beards and also the occasional Honeysuckle flower still in bloom.
Scuttling out from the long grass was a female Pheasant, this bird ran down the path before returning into the scrub at the side, slightly reddish colouration on its long neck. It is always a bit of a shock when these birds emerge as they always make such a noise when doing so!
Looping across the blue sky was a Pied Wagtail, the long tail helping greatly with identification, which was confirmed when it called. Another few passed by a little later alongside a small group of Linnets.
Taking flight from the downland grass were some Meadow Pipits, a gentle tweeting as they moved then silence as they landed a few yards away.
Floating along at head height, as I walked along the cliff top was a Sparrowhawk, the longish tail and brown back catching my attention.