As has become familiar both Cock Pheasant and Green Woodpecker were heard but not seen (the opposite to what was desired of Victorian children!). Visibility extended beyond Ballard towards the one familiar Boscombe cliff tops. Before opening the field gate into South Field, I admired a fully leaf wearing Field Maple to my right in contrast to an Ash only just popping out fresh leaves to my left. Beyond most of the thorny scrub was now “dressed”. One Carrion Crow called as it flew north towards the Large Copse, whilst it passed a pair going to the Small Copse.
Early Purple Orchids and Cowslips were enjoyed in South Field, of course Early Spider Orchids “clocked” in Saxon. I was delighted to see, in the shorter north facing side of this field, the small Adders Tongue Fern. Of course, its fronds being solid, not unlike Harts Tongue, but smaller. Nearing the Drove and Meadows, Skylark song began to be heard. Cowslips had been joined by Buttercups in the Meadows and amongst some of the Hay /Yellow Rattle stems were a few of their flowers. Above Eight Acres my mornings first Skylark hover & song was witnessed. In the field, a Whitethroat was heard and seen amongst Blackthorn upon a quarry mound. A second such bird “greeted” me upon the north-south drove.
Into field 3 I went to check on the Hereford Calves and Cows. I noted the increased amount of exposed muddy margin at the diminishing dew pond. Leaf blades of Flag Iris stretched out of the water whilst the five petal flowers of Water Crowfoot emerged upon stems from deeper water. I counted all twelve cows ruminating amongst a thick sward, but the calves were harder to count especially as some cuddled up together. I climbed a quarry mound to try to improve my view but was rewarded by seeing Crosswort, a delicate bedstraw, showing yellow flowers.
My highlight of the morning was I descended from the coastal ridge through scrub towards the upper gully sleeper bridge. There ahead of me amongst the dry soil and exposed Purbeck limestone were not one, but two Yellow Hammers. Ironically seen when I had not been searching for them, often by their song. Reliably back at the centre a House Sparrow duo flew about the roof top.