I came in a little earlier for a socially distanced patrol with a facemask ready to go on my chin. I passed under a Carrion Crow perched in Holm Oak tree, which itself may have been holding small acorns like other beside the car park. A hidden Magpie cackled near the centre before I was hit with view of obvious Knapweed and Wild Parsnip amongst a meadow. Bracken fronds stood taller than I before entering South Field where Corky Fruited Water Dropwort flowers stood out, whilst Fleabane was less frequent. I enjoyed the flight and vocals of a passing Skylark before hearing a Raven, which was to fly east from the East-West Drove.
At the Hay Rake Quarr I succeeded in finding the very small white flowers of Ted Pratt’s “Stars in the grass” or Bastard Toadflax which shares no characteristics with Common Toadflax. Also amongst the short turf was Dwarf Thistle and Eye Bright. A Rabbit paused at the scrub edge. I found a “sleeping” Common Shrew, one of the “live fast, die young” insectivores that are normally hard to see. A Goldfinch charm of twenty passed overhead.
A “clucking” Blackbird hid beside the disused water tank in Eight Acres. Standing upon stone stile I saw that meadows had been harvested at Belle Vue, whilst ours remain a wildlife haven. A Skipper flew past a piece of sheltered drystone wall that was exposed amongst a hedgerow.
In 6 I saw a peppering of cow pats which themselves were spotted by insect holes. Upon the coastal ridge one Buzzard feather was found. The Herford Cattle were found in the south-eastern corners of 10, mostly ruminating. I accounted for 38 animals, including the Bull, when 2 more arrived following the boundary wall. I assume one animal to be hidden by the island of scrub. Passing by were a House Martin trio.
Passing through the gully cutting a few Teasel heads retained rings of petals. Approaching the measured mile markers came the mewing of Herring Gulls. I sanitised hands and donned facemask to complete the weather readings before returning to isolation, for now…