A still, warm start to the day, with hundreds of Swallows swirling around the Learning Centre as I arrived, feeding up on tiny insects as they prepare for the long journey ahead.
Around the park, numbers of other migrant birds are starting to swell, as autumn migration approaches, with Whitethroats dotted around almost every bush and hedgerow. A variety of other warblers either seen, heard or ringed this morning, including Lesser Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.
A more unusual migrant spotted at first light by our bird ringers, as the unmistakable silhouette of a Nightjar whizzed overhead through the early morning gloom, with a Redstart ringed later on.
Still plenty of Painted Lady butterflies on the wing, with another distinctive migrant – a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on Red Valerian just outside the Castle. Above the Wildlife Area pond, a Southern Hawker dragonfly is on patrol – his sudden, angular turns making his flight seem very purposeful.
Hedges are filling up with fruit, from the bright crimson of Hawthorn berries, to midnight blue Sloes, tiny black Dogwood berries, sprays of tiny, shiny Wayfaring Tree berries and ripening ropes of Bryony, like strings of beads. Blackberries are starting to ripen (a little later here than inland), while dense tangles of Old Man’s Beard are covered with green-yellow flowers.
Our hay-cuts have now started – over the next few weeks, most of the meadows will be cut to maintain their condition, though we will be leaving some fields, and some areas within cut fields to provide late nectar sources and habitat.
Nonetheless, still some later summer flowers to enjoy, especially on the downland with taller flowers including yellow Fleabane, dark purple Knapweed, tall yellow Wild Parsnip, Woolly Thistle, Hemp Agrimony and Bristly Ox-tongue.
On the shorter turf, Wild Thyme, Common Restharrow and Scarlet Pimpernel seen, along with a plodding Bloody-nose Beetle.
A Peregrine Falcon is patrolling the cliffs in search of breakfast, with a glimpse of a Sparrowhawk rolling over the top of a hedge as I returned to the Learning Centre.