It is a bit wild and windy this morning, with 6.2mm of rain overnight, heavy rain and strong winds forecast all day. Around the Learning Centre this morning a Robin was pecking in the verge grasses pulling out long worms, Sparrows were chirping away from the roof gutters and two Swallows were flying head height around the building. I popped into the Hide to be greeted by a House Martin, I’m not sure who was more surprised, I retracted and after a few moments he flew out the door.
The Hide overlooks a pond and wild grass area, surrounded by traditional hedgerows. One of the hedges that was laid a few years ago is doing wonderfully, its mix of Hawthorn, Rose, Hazel, Willow, Ash and Elder make a fantastic habitat, shelter and food source for many species, as well as being a protective cover from human interference and strong winds. Jackdaws moved around the long grass filled with Ox-eye Daisies and Sparrows flew between the hide and the hedgerows.
Yellow Vetch, Bracken, Bramble, Wild Carrot and Tufted Vetch all make up another wonderful habitat and on a nearby Maple a Whitethroat was singing. In south field there is a wonderful colour mix of purple Common Spotted Orchids, Yellow Meadow Buttercups and White Corky Fruity Water Dropwort. Agrimony and Yellow Rattle add to the tall yellow flowers. On a disturbed piece of ground Blue Milkwort, Purple Wild Thyme and White Eye-bright all cover the soil. Above a Skylark sang and a Chaffinch flew past to land in a hedgerow. A group of Long-tailed Tits flew along a hedge-line, sheltering as they went, a Dunnock sang from a Bramble patch and Blue Tits flitted around a Holm Oak tree.