Upon arrival at the park, I am greeted by a noisy Crow who caws loudly from the tips of a Field Maple by the Lighthouse Field gate. Its damp. Between the few Daisies and Celandines, the grass is covered in dew, and a low mist hangs above the downs.
Despite the dreary weather, bird song fills the air and is echoed in every direction. A symphony of Robins dominate the soundwaves alongside the two-tone tunes of Great Tits, and the cheery chirps from Goldfinch.
Throughout the woodland, an inconspicuous green-leaved plant called Lords and Ladies has sprouted fresh arrow-shaped leaves. It was recently featured on Attenborough’s Wild Isles, which highlighted it’s impressively intricate pollination technique; whereby its flower heats to 15 degrees higher than the surrounding temperatures and emits a foul-smelling scent to entrap flies and hold them hostage whilst it showers them in pollen.
Beautiful sunny Gorse blooms adorn the coastal slopes to Tilly Whim. I stop in the calm breeze to appreciate the sweet-coconut scent. Yet more Goldfinch gather, each emitting a short 4 tone verse which is repeated across the scrubland.
The cliffs are awash with nesting activity as Jackdaws and Shags collect sticks to bring back to the partners. Herring Gulls, Fulmars, and the odd Greater Black-backed Gull patrol above water, whilst Guillemots and Razorbills crowd the largest rocky ledges, and float together in rafts below.
Blue sky appears as I traverse the soggy slopes of the Lighthouse field. Once again, bird song can be heard all around, this time with Chaffinch and Greenfinch competing for centre stage. But it’s the sound of the Skylarks steal the show, with a good few birds heard from high above the downs and meadows.