A change today with a layer of grey fog lying across the Country Park, but piercing this was the glorious sound of a Skylark, and this continued almost throughout my patrol.
Much more surprising was the reeling call coming from the long grass at the bottom of the clump of Blackthorn, this continued for some time confirming my initial thought of Grasshopper Warbler.
In the background a Common Whitethroat was scratchily calling while a Lesser Whitethroat was also in song, a good chance to compare the sound of these two closely related birds. As they were both also showing relatively well in an Elder and Hawthorn their physical differences were also noticeable.
A large patch of Adder’s Tongue Fern showing on the meadows, the slightly pale green thick leaves, almost rubbery to touch, and the spike dripping in water droplets.
Small yellow balls of Black Medic flowering amongst the Bulbous Buttercups and Cowslips providing another layer and different yellow colour!
The hedgerows are now awash with flowers including Cow Parsley, Green Alkanet, Herb Robert, Jack-by-the-Hedge and a scattering of White Deed Nettle.
Flying ahead of me, two Bullfinches, easily recognisable by the two white rumps, when the landed the brilliant pink of the male showed up wonderfully.
As the fog swept across a quick glimpse of a Fox moving through the long grass, while a Chiffchaff called in its regular fashion and a Stonechat chatted. From behind me came the laughing call of a Green Woodpecker.