After yesterday’s rain, a slightly fresher morning – even had to wear a jumper!
A good selection of small birds to watch and enjoy as I walked around. Perched on the top of a Hawthorn was a Sedge Warbler, its stripey markings showing up well.
Overhead a steady flow of Swallows and Sand Martins, swooping and chattering as they moved across the sky. The deep blue of the Swallows differing from the paler brown of the Sand Martins.
Flocks of Meadow Pipits also to be seen, with great views of them as they landed in amongst a huge patch of white flower laden Old Man’s Beard.
A small bird popping up amongst the Blackthorn, was a Willow Warbler – the yellowish colours making for identification.
Common Whitethroat, Linnet, Goldfinches and a Chaffinch added to the list. If only this many birds had popped up during yesterday’s Guided Bird Walk!
Across the short downland turf, the small white flowers of Wild Carrot showing alongside the purples of Lesser and Greater Knapweed and the pale lilac of Small Scabious.
Looking more closely and the white umbellifer flowers of Burnet Saxifrage along with the yellowish tinged Pepper Saxifrage also spotted.
Smaller still, the tiny delicate star-shaped white flowers of Bastard Toadflax, nearby Eyebright, Squinancywort and the taller yellow flowers of Yellowwort and pink of Centuary.
The ground also carpeted in a covering of Snails, hundreds of tiny shells, very difficult to avoid crunching any underfoot.
Returning to the centre, a patch of Gorse was being sat on by a Stonechat, showing orange, black and white