A most splendid sunny morning which saw me walking very slowly and spending time in Saxon Field. To begin there was a cacophony on bird sound much of which was the Bird Ringers attempting to lure birds in. Indeed, this morning’s captures included: three Firecrest; Goldcrest; Chiff Chaffs and a Blackcap.
Visibility was so good that Hurst Castle was clearly seen. Beside the Centre a solo Greenfinch perched on scrub whilst four Goldfinches perched on top an Ash tree. From South Field a good one hundred Wood Pigeon flew over the back meadows. Meanwhile, in the field itself amongst the Herford Cattle one Jackdaw followed close at the heels of one cow, whilst a Magpie set up from the ground heading into Large Copse. From a boundary Sycamore tree beside Saxon a Carrion Crow tilted its head and called to the sky. In a blue patch between the cloud and aircraft was seen and heard giving a summery sound! There was plenty of Blackbird activity in the hedgerows with pairs frequently seen and heard. Of course, the females were dark brown not black!
From the inland side of Saxon Field upon a neighbour’s pony paddock one Cock Pheasant appeared to have a harem of five Hen Pheasants for company. I believe it were a dozen Rooks which were perched in trees in the distance at Townsend. The first Song Thrush sighting was amongst a Lichen glad Elder Bush. However, a pair was later seen upon the wares. Lower down in the Blackberry cover Wrens were heard emitting a “machine gun” rattle. Robins were more obvious on bushes, dry stone walls and at path edges. I had walked amongst dry Agrimony and Fleabane stems on the inland side of the field whilst the seaward side had green leaved Hemp Agrimony at the margin still holding seed clocks. A three-inch-tall Kanpweed flower gave a welcome pink / blue addition to an otherwise green field.
Following a silent flying Jay, I took care and descend into what was now slippery “Saxon Soggy Sycamore Corner”. One Sycamore tree was virtually leafless except for a few dried a shrivelled specimen. A neighbouring Sycamore retained many seed masts and hosted one Goldfinch. Flying overhead a Jackdaw chose to “chuff”. Seven Greylag Geese have been reported flying overhead