A chill in the air as I walked around the Country Park National Nature Reserve, where the wonderful sound of Skylarks could be heard around both the meadows and on the downland.
Every now and then one of these beautifully marked brown birds would emerge from the tufts of grass and take flight, pouring out snatches of their glorious songs. I was able to count 10 different Skylarks this morning.
The rattle of a Chaffinch was coming from the top of an ancient Hawthorn, the pinky chest and flash of blue spotted as it turned, while the seeping call of a Greenfinch was eventually tracked down to a large patch of Gorse. The green and yellow bird blending in well with the yellow flowers and green spikes!
From the other side of a large patch of dull brown Bramble scrub came a strange rustling, as I waited 2 Roe Deer emerged, both a dull brown to match the plants, as they trotted off, the white rump flashed and then they were both silhouetted as they stopped on the hilltop against the patch of blue sky!
Flowers are now starting to show with a few very short Cowslips providing a pale yellow addition to the green as they are almost open. Common Whitlow Grass is out on the downs and Lesser Celandine, Spring Crocus and Daffodils add colour around the car parks.
As I went to search out frog spawn in the ponds – none seen in either of the two ponds I looked in, Dunnocks were singing, their thin tune a good one to learn at this time of year, as there is less competition for the ears.
I was hoping for the first Wheatear of the year today – they are often the earliest migrant to arrive from Africa.
A burst of a yaffle alerted me to a Green Woodpecker looping across the sky, and then a Kestrel flicked into view, hovering.