The loud cackle of a Green Woodpecker heard as I walked through the newly mown meadow, standing on top of a remaining Meadow Ant hill was a second of these brightly coloured birds, the green body, yellowish rump and red mark below its chin easily spotted as it probed into the hill.
From the hedgerow a flash of red, this was a Redstart, its red tail flicking as it perched on the prickly branch. Wonderful to see this bird as it drops in during its migration, before it returning to the continent.
Flitting through the sky, twisting and turning were Swallows and House Martins, at least 40 counted as I stood at one of our many gateways.
From behind me came a loud croak, and rising from the Black Pines was a Raven, looking even bigger than usual for some reason. When compared with the Carrion Crow it disturbed, the Magpie and the Jay also seen today it was huge!
A superb show of Small Scabious, their delicate deep lilac coloured petals contrasting with the bright yellow of the Bird’s Foot Trefoil. Nearby, the spike of an Autumn Gentian protruded from the ground, its purple flowers closed while they await some sunshine.
Despite the lack of sun, the grass was still alive with grasshoppers, including the short-winged, multi coloured Meadow Grasshopper and the long-winged Field Grasshopper.
Clambering over the Brambles, a Dark Bush-cricket, while just on the edge of the short grass, was a female Great Green Bush-cricket with her long ovipositor sticking into the ground, hopefully laying eggs for next years brood.
Taking off from the downland was a Wheatear, the white rump making it easy to identify as it flew, landing on the top of one of our many dry-stone walls, where I could have a better look at its sandy colouring and dark mask.