Thanks to the Bird Ringers playing bird call recordings there were birds about the Learning Centre. Amongst these were a pair of Goldfinches, picnic tables and path foraging Robins, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Chiff Chaffs, Blackcaps and four Dunnocks upon a grass path. A pair of Blackbirds had to make an appearance, but the Pied Wagtail was a treat.
In the gateway to South Field a Rabbit rested, for a while, below the lowest bar of the wooden gate. Amongst the dry grass stems pockets of flowers could be found including the odd Field Scabious, Pale Flax, Corky Fruited Water Dropwort and Ragwort. Sycamore held onto their masts at the Small Copse whilst Ash trees displayed a few dried shrivelled masts.
Saxon field, due to spring grazing, had a shorter sward amongst which flowers were more easily seen. Hay-rake quarr had several petal-less ground hugging Oxeye Daisies (as well as full flowers). Yellow Horseshoe Vetch, Wild Thyme upon Ant Hills, Eyebright, Dwarf Thistle and Lady’s Bedstraw showed flowers. In thirty-three Swallows flew east above this field. A Whitethroat was amongst the hedgerow whilst the Herford Cattle we seen in the distance in Jack Baiss meadow. Before leaving Saxon Red Bartsia and Woolly Thistle, White Clover, Fleabane, Greater Knapweed, Wild Parsnip, Yarrow, Agrimony and Bristly Ox-tongue flowered still.
Ironically in Oxeye Daisy Meadow this morning Rest Harrow appeared to be the most obvious species in flower! Dew decorated cob webs were rigged parallel to the ground to capture crawling insects.
Upon the downs (Common Wares) five Gatekeepers flew as well as Buff Tailed Bumble Bees. I enjoyed seeing the custardy trumpets of Common Toadflax flowers. There was interaction between Carrion Crows and Jackdaws with calls of the former appearing to scatter the latter. A Green Woodpecker was heard but remained unseen. The wave sound was interrupted by the droning rapid progress of “Ocean Runner” clearing on an angling mission. Meanwhile, a good half dozen sail vessel also travelled west although in a less obtrusive manner.