Silently a Jay flew into the Small Copse to perch at mid tree height. The Raven which was initially heard near the Large Copse made its way onto the downs. There it sat atop the lowest mile marker. Its calls only gained responses from Carrion Crows. The later appeared to be approximately a score in number. These along with the two score Jackdaw gave the feel of the film “The Birds” by Alfred Hitchcock! A Meadow Ant Hill had been excavated probably by a Green Woodpecker. To me it made me think of a Bronze Age burial which had been raided for its buried treasures.
Quite a bit of Rabbit fur was spread about the wares, however, unlike feathers one could not determine whether the fur had been plucked by a bird or torn out by a Fox. A Fox leaving contained undigested berry skins and stone. Below the lighthouse a Rabbit was briefly glimpsed in a small glade between the scrub.
It was a pleasant surprise to see a few flowers upon the down land. Amongst them was the white Yarrow, the yellow of Rough Hawksbit and the twin flowers upon a stem of Horseshoe Vetch. Even a few short Oxeye Daisies were upon the wares. By the road bridge at the base of dry stems sat the discarded seed heads of Woolly Thistle that did not get dispersed by the wind. Protruding through dense Blackthorn were the buds of Wayfaring Tree whilst scaling said thorn a Bryony stem displayed both fresh ruby colour and dry shrivelled berries side by side. In the gully bottom Haws were in great numbers, however, despite the cloak of Travellers Joy there was a fair quantity of the wispy balls of silky hairs responsible for seed dispersal.
The Hereford calf which I followed as we ascended the wares transported two Burdock burrs upon its rear. From the upper gully a Cock Pheasant called out. A few insects were on the wing including a Bumble Bee which was briefly blown off course. Just before reaching the weather station I heard the familiar call and saw in flight a Pied Wagtail.
Hamish reported having seen a Humes (Leaf) Warbler in the vicinity of caravan terrace. Said birds come from Asia.