Out to the meadows for the early patrol, just fantastic even on this dull morning. They are teeming with wildflowers providing a glorious showing of yellows, greens, browns, blues and reds.
From one point the tall Hogweed was dwarfing the Cocksfoot and Yorkshire Fog grasses below, while in the field around was an array of the ‘Pea’ family with Red Clover, White Clover, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Meadow Vetchling, Common Vetch, Tufted Vetch and Hop Trefoil.
As I looked through my binoculars the wing of a Meadow Brown caught my attention, this butterfly closed up tightly showing only its brown underwing, but contrasting against the white of the Corky-fruited Water Dropwort it was perched on.
In the centre of a Meadow Buttercup was an iridescent green Thick-kneed Flower Beetle and on closer inspection Bush-cricket nymphs could be seen climbing the stalks of the Crested Dog’s Tail and Meadow Barley.
The wonderful fluty song of a Skylark wafted down from the grey sky, but no sign of it!
Flitting along the hedgerow was a Bullfinch, the white rump making it so easy to recognise, even easier when it perched facing me, with the bright pink chest very prominent. Another couple joined it in the Hawthorn bush, showing off the successful fledging of their young.
From amongst the Blackthorn and Bramble scrub came the loud cawing of young Crows, three of these all black birds precariously balanced calling constantly.
Scampering across the path was a young pale coated Fox. This young animal slipped into the long grass making the Quaking Grass quake as it travelled through.
A family of Common Whitethroats chattered from the Field Maple, Great Tits moved actively in an Elder while Blue Tits chittered.