Already active were the Bird Ringers who reported Grasshopper Warbler, Spotted Fly Catcher, Red Start, Willow Warbler, Black Cap amongst their catch so far. Whilst moth trapper Duke began with plenty more Portland Ribbon Waves around the moth trap than he had yet had inside the trap this year! Others outside the trap were Tawny Pug and a Delicate.
In South Field I listened to Grasshoppers whilst observing a male Black Cap upon the scrub island, then a Swallow passed overhead. Just over a dry-stone wall, a Goldfinch pecked at the Teasel head it perched upon. Offshore was a flat see with a horizon of haze. The shade of the north edge of Small Copse was welcomed, before entering open hay cut ground to inspect bales for bird pellets. Two more Swallows travelled by, as one Magpie watched from a bale, another searched the cut sward and a third perched in a hedgerow. Fluttered by a Large White.
Near the hay rake Oxeye Daisies, Wild Thyme, as well as the perfoliate Yellow Wort, Eye Bright, Field Scabious, Yarrow and Bristly Ox Tongue. Additionally, a bounty of berries was upon Cotoneaster. To me the hay cut has been done well. Plenty of bales and good uncut patches left for Small Mammals and overwintering insect larvae. Some uncut patches were left in the centre of a hay cut, too off small mammal run for cover into the centre of the hay to be cut and….
Over a meter tall, thin stem of Sycamore pierced through a Saxon scrub island to shoe fresh leaves and buds. More Swallows and a Meadow Brown were enjoyed. Honeysuckle showed flowers beside Blackberries. A bounty of Haws was alongside the Drove. Agrimony persisted in the uncut of Herren Ground. Crisp Bracken fronds were at meadow edges as a pair of Carrion Crow were on the coastal ridge. Near the Small Copse where a gulp of seven Magpies were upon one Hawthorn bush together as an eight perched nearby. Both a runner and I were harassed by an uncontrolled jumping dog. Please consider others in the countryside….