A grey day with many different cloud layers, from wispy white to dark grey, while at sea a heavy shower was falling.
Against this backdrop was a constant movement of small birds, the most numerous certainly Swallows and House Martins. The longer wings of the Swallows seen as they passed over, during the banking the white rump of the House Martin could be seen.
Perched on a branch of the berry laden Hawthorn was Blackcap, this greyish male standing upright its cap obvious when it turned away.
This morning the constant flitting of birds catching the eye, and their calling the ear. Across the downland, flocks of Meadow Pipits were passing overhead, many calling as they went, while emerging from the ground was a group of Skylarks, these made a very different more melodic sound when they took off.
Bobbing on the turf was a Wheatear, a superbly marked African migrant, whose black eye mask was showing and on moving, its white rump flashing.
Deep in the Blackthorn and Bramble scrub were some Bullfinches, their seeping call drawing my attention, the pink front eventually spotted hiding between the mass of twigs and bindings.
A charm of Goldfinches perched in amongst the rambling white flowers of the Traveller’s Joy, gold wing bars flashing as they moved.
As I walked across the meadow, ahead of me was a single Hawthorn, a flitting caught my eye and perched on it were 3 Tree Pipits.
Soaring at sea were a couple of glorious white Gannets, the black wing tips showing well.
Yesterday in the sunny spells during our blustery Bird Guided Walk were some butterflies with Wall Brown, Speckled Wood and Painted Lady all seen.
The white flowers of Yarrow going over, turning to hard seed heads, a few Small Scabious also still in bloom along with Fleabane and Bristley Ox-tongue. Down in the woods a patch of wonderfully named Dog Vomit Slime Mould growing on a Holm Oak log.