Another lovely morning for a stroll across the National Nature Reserve, where above the meadows a constant stream of hirundines flew, coming vaguely from a westerly direction. Swallows the dominant species (approx. estimate of 2500 / hr), a deep blue and more elongated than the more diamond shaped Sand Martins (approx. 300) and the white rumped House Martins (500 approx).
Lots of small bird activity with Blackcaps popping up from within many of the berry laden Hawthorns and Elders, while more difficult to spot were some of the warblers, including Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler, whilst the Common Whitethroat easier as it flashed its white throat.
Overhead a Grey Heron lumbered while in a Nightjar was seen as dawn broke. Grey Wagtails and a flock of Yellow Wagtails added to the Siskin heading across the sky.
Perhaps the Merlin dashing up the gully was the pick or possibly the sheer technique of a Kestrel as it hovered keeping its head perfectly still as its body and wings quivered.
Looking to the ground, and an Adonis Blue was holding firm to the stem of a Greater Knapweed, a Meadow Brown and Wall Brown both took flight and a Small Copper basked showing off its gorgeous markings.
On a patch of short downland turf the white flowers of Autumn Ladies Tresses spiralled up the grey-green stem, while nearby the spike of an Autumn Gentian showed, the flowers still tucked shut as it waited for more sunshine. Other low growing flowers still bloom are Restharrow and Wild Thyme.
A clump of purple vetch, all alone in one of the meadows is Lucerne, which has a quite distinctive shaped flower and leaf, nearby lots of Black Knapweed, Wild Carrot and Fleabane.
Along the drove the odd sight of the huge leaves of Burdock having been ravaged by some creature, the soft flesh removed leaving numerous veins, but no sign of the culprit – one of the caterpillars which feed on this is Frosted Orange.