A chilly start to my morning, with patches of blue sky dotted between the foreboding grey clouds.
The sound of a Green Woodpecker yaffling as it flew above the meadow, the green and yellow difficult to see in the gloom, but the flight action and the call making it easy to identify.
Perched on the twig of a lichen encrusted Blackthorn was a Robin, its red breast facing me, further in this clump of spiky scrub was a Wren, the loud call drawing my attention to the patch to look at, where this small bird was standing, a pale eye stripe just catching the light.
By a gateway a patch of Charlock spotted, this arable weed flowering brightly with pale yellow flowers the four petals in a crucifer shape.
Less surprising for the time of year is the splodges of yellow flowers on the Gorse, as this plant is known for flowering throughout the year.
Flying overhead was a large black and white bird, with long neck, after consideration and study it was a Diver in non-breeding plumage, probably a Red-throated Diver.
Along the newly woodchipped woodland path a slimy bit of deep yellow gunge is Yellow Brain Fungus, while nearby the little wisps of black with white tips is Candlesnuff Fungus. This path was chipped by the Volunteer Work Party yesterday – why not join them? Every Tues, Wed or Thurs morning10am.
The Hereford Cattle are still munching the grass at the western fields of the Country Park as part of the limestone grassland and hay meadow management. As I checked one of the smaller calves was giving a ride to a Jackdaw, this black bird with grey head and black cap pecking looking as if it was happy to be given a lift!