Another fine autumn morning, with a fresh north-easterly breeze making it feel a little cooler today, despite some bright sunshine, making the sea look like beaten copper.
Walking up across the meadows, Swallows and House Martins circle and swoop overhead, with a Swallow zooming along Taskers path almost low enough to part my hair!
Many small flocks of Goldfinches twitter and swirl along the hedgerows, with lots of Woodpigeon barrelling along of the gusty breeze with a clattering of wings.
A few sweet notes from a Skylark heard as it passes overhead, with Linnets and Meadow Pipits also passing through.
On the Milepost slop, a Wheatear rises up from the grass as I approach, with a flash of it’s white rump, while in the hedgerows, Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Long-tailed Tits and Dunnocks are all out foraging.
A Raven croaks as it battles the wind above the Reservoir Copse, with a Green Woodpecker bobbing it’s way across Long Meadow.
On the downs, still plenty of flowers in bloom, including the tiny pink flowers of Felwort or Autumn Gentian. This pretty little plant – usually only a centimetre or two tall here, is confined to the shortest, Rabbit grazed turf. Nearby, Bastard Toadflax, Squinancywort, Eyebright, Kidney Vetch, Red Bartsia and Wild Thyme are also in bloom.
A Bloody-nose Beetle plods mechanically among the dry heads of Quaking Grass, with a Fox Moth caterpillar – large, hairy and orange and brown crossing the short turf of a path with a surprising turn of speed.
Towering above them (relatively speaking!), Wild Carrot, Yarrow, Wild Parsnip, Knapweed and Fleabane are also still in flower.
Among the leaves of a sheltered Hawthorn, the dappled wings of a Magpie Moth seen, while here and there, the ‘latrines’ of Badgers are filled with purple poo, where they have been feasting on Blackberries.