A chill in the air for my patrol this morning, but glorious sunshine and blue sky to accompany me.
The smell of the hay which was cut yesterday pervade the meadows as Swallows were swooping above it, their flitting and turning amazing to watch.
In the sloe and blackberry laden hedgerow, moving through the prickles was a Garden Warbler, it is almost its blandness which makes it obvious. The bushes however full of Blackcaps, the greyish bodies catching the light as they moved, while the black or brown caps spotted as they perched.
A bird perched on the top of the Hawthorn, a lovely chestnut back, as it turned the white throat of this Common Whitethroat could be seen, alongside it were a couple of Great Tits.
Nearby a quick glimpse of a Grasshopper Warbler as it emerged from a tuft of rough grass, streaky markings and rounded tail disappearing quickly into the rambling mass of Old Man’s Beard.
As I climbed over one of our stone stiles, I could see into the newly cut field where a Fox was quivering, 1 paw in mid-air as it slowly crept up on some unsuspecting prey, suddenly the Fox leapt into the air and pounced – the outcome of this hunt I couldn’t tell as the gorgeously coloured animal had disappeared from view.
Basking in the sun was a Painted Lady butterfly, this one faded and tattered around the edges, but Large Whites and Small Whites were both easily spotted as was the brilliant blue of an Adonis Blue, a single bright spot amongst the brown grasses.
Other butterflies to look for include Common Blue, Brown Argus, Wall Brown, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood.
The sound of Meadow Grasshoppers and Field Grasshoppers coming from the Tall Fescue and Sweet Vernal Grass.