A pair of Greenfinch perched in a Sycamore beside the Centre and were joined by a duo of Goldfinches. On the coastal side of the building, two Swallows sped past. We heard a Green Woodpecker’s waffle as we progressed to the Saxon Meadow. There the bird then caught up with us beside the Hay Rake. It climbed a Sycamore before launching itself along the hedgerow, until it landed amongst ant hills beside the Small Copse. Amongst a Field Maples branches danced a pair of Blue Tits.
On the seaward face of Saxon, it appeared there might have been a territorial dispute between two Skylarks as a chase progressed. We watched a Skylark upon some short sward, its head” tuft” most clear as was it overall striated pattern. It took to singing flight in a circle which as took in part of the neighbouring meadow. Upon a bramble tendril above Blackthorn a Dunnock wore its shades of brown pinstripe.
On the inland side of Saxon amongst the mosaic of grassland and scrub were two male Stonechats and a female. Both males called and were within closes proximity. Whilst one showed its vivid colour the others was most pale. We thought these might been father and son. A Wren, Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Robins and of course the currently familiar Whitethroats all put in appearances both audibly and visually.
In the distance the drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard along with a Pheasant’s cockcrow. A Jay landed amongst another hedgerow whilst a Magpie duo landed in a grassy glade.
I took the opportunity to show Stuart the Adders Tongue Ferns which might look like evergreen leaves that had been picked and scatter amongst the short sward. Elsewhere I had seen the windblown Willow seeds caught in the grass like pet hairs in a carpet.
Upon the disturbed soil of an Ant Hill crawled a Bloody-nosed Beetle. Another Ant Hill had a carpet of a fescue grass species contrasting with the surrounding domineering Tor Grass. A Wall Brown flew some distance from a wall to reach the sun.
Stuart reported from the wildlife pond six Smooth Newts, water Boatmen and Whirligig Beetles. Colleagues reported seeing a Swift, a Roe Deer doe in the gully another in the goat plot. Apparently Twayblade was in flower in the woodland and a Dryad’s Saddle fungi could be seen.