The sound of bird song emanates from around the park this morning. Robins and Chiffchaff chirp from the hedgerows and a large group of Goldfinch flock above the woodland. In contrast to these cheery twitters, the low cronks of a Raven as it passes over Long Meadow.
With clear blue skies in this latter part of September, there’s a chill in air, but if there’s one thing to get me excited for the cooler months, it’s the chance to catch the late sunrises; casting golden light upon the trees and long shadows behind them.
I wander down the play trail to check upon the equipment. Here, I find the Wasp nest still active, with these insects busying themselves buzzing to and from the hole amongst the leaf mulch.
Sadly I find a lovely bit of standing deadwood lost to the storms. This chunky old Sycamore trunk had completely hollowed through, and likely becoming home to bats and cavity nesting birds over the years as evidenced by the woodpecker holes on its trunk. It now lays upon the ground ready to get swallowed upon by the surrounding Bramble and Holly as the detritivores get to work.
All along the Pine-cliff walk you can find Red Admirals basking in the sunlight; they flutter away as you approach; giving a flash of the red-barring on their wings which reflects the Rosehips and Haws upon the hedges. I spot a couple Speckled Woods as well.
At Rest & Admire, a frenzy of activity around the tree canopy, where House Martins gather in number for their autumn migration. I watch their incredible aerobatics from below, their swift movements aided by their relatively vast wingspans and short arrow-shaped tail feathers.
Although I didn’t have time to get down to the clifftop, our new residential volunteer Sarah returned from here filled with excitement to report her very first sighting of a Peregrine Falcon, whilst apprentice Tom enthusiastically reported a Jay along the Entrance Road – truly memorable experiences for any nature enthusiasts!