Beside the centre cornflake-like Sycamore leaves rustled in the wind. Meanwhile, a related Field Maple, at the entrance to Skipworth Meadow, held still green leaves and many seed masts yet to be dispersed. Perched on top of the Large Copse canopy called a pair of Carrion Crow. At ground level one Blackthorn hosted healthy branching lichen colony whilst the few sloes and leaves it were shrivelled and drying.
Over the large round hay bales in Taskers meadow flew a solitary unidentified butterfly. Fortunately for it’s the insect House Martins, in this location, flew far higher although one chose a ground level skim. Between Taskers and Saxon Meadows, a deceased, but still hairy, Fox Moth Caterpillar was near the gateway. Amongst the hedgerow separating Taskers from the Paddock petit pois size Privet fruit were alongside Sloes and Blackberries. From the margin sward a Crane Fly was set up.
Amongst the north facing side of Saxon a rather faded male Stonechat was finally found. Later a pair were also to be seen on the gully slopes. Flowers were seen on Field Scabious, Yarrow and Bristly Ox Tongue. From amongst the latter a Wren arose and flew with dangling food from its beak. As I waded through waist high vegetation I help set and disperse a range of seeds but came perhaps a little to close the sail like web occupied by a waiting Garden Spider.
In the distance Hereford Cattle appeared to be where they should be in field three and Jack Baiss Meadow. In the upper gully I saw a solitary Long Tailed Tit amongst Hawthorn. Both Chiff Chaff and Blackcap were seen amongst the scrub. A pleasant surprise was the passage of eight Cormorants flying as a close formation high above the lighthouse heading east!
Hamish reported Yellow, Grey and Pied Wagtails as well as Tree Pipit, Wheatear and Buzzard amongst his sightings. I left him to literally focus upon an Adonis Blue. Within a Wayfaring Tree the bright red fruits those of Black Bryony which had scaled its host’s frame. The moth trap contained an Angle Shades, Dusky Thorn, Large Yellow Underwing a Shield Bug and a Wasp.