Clear blue skies and a brisk easterly wind lend themselves to a chilly wintery start to the day. Tucked out of the Sun’s reach, frost can be seen on car windscreens at Sunnydale and on the ground along the Eastern flank of Long Meadow.
Just one day left of February and the first signs of Spring are here, with Snowdrop, Daffodil, Crocus, Comfrey, Heliotrope, and Primrose all in flower. Fresh green leaves of Lords and Ladies are sprouting across the forest floor, utilising the sunlight before the trees above come to leaf.
Some of the first leaf buds to appear can be seen on Hazel around the Aviary Glade. Many of the long drooping male catkins have fallen, but some remain with their female counterparts – miniscule pink flowers just a millimetre or two in size.
My favourite display of colour was found on the Cherry Laurel, where a bountiful crop of red berries adorn the shrubs. As I’m taking a photo, a Greater-spotted Woodpecker can be heard drilling into a tree somewhere above. The sound echoes throughout the woodland.
A lovely variety of birds can be heard on my walk back up the hill; Great Tit, Woodpigeon, Crow, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Robin, and Wren.
With a bit of time left, I head down to the south-facing sea cliffs which glow in the sunlight. Sheltered from the wind, I’m relieved to feel the warmth of the Sun.
Two Ravens pass overhead as I reach the Observation Point, emitting loud ‘cronks’ as they flew. Looking over the viewpoint, I can see six Guillemots rafting together near to a couple of Herring Gulls, also on the water. Jackdaws float around the top of the cliffs, and I’m joined by an inquisitive Dunnock who perches on the wall.