What a marvellous morning, with bright blue sky and the sun shining.
With this came birdsong, a ‘seeping’ Greenfinch heard in amongst the Blackthorn, the buds of which are preparing themselves to burst open.
As I stopped to enjoy the blue sky and warmth of the sun a Skylark flitted across the grass, then rose into the blue and started to sing – quite magnificent. As I wandered along the path this song stopped and started keeping me company and making me look skywards to spot the bird – almost like a compulsion!
By the corner of the woods, the corner of the wall had been knocked down, as I rebuilt it, a Goldcrest flicked between twigs of Holm Oak and Macrocarpa, a tiny whirr of greeny-brown, occasionally flashing its yellow stripe.
A stuttering Chaffinch added more notes to the air, while from an Elder a Dunnock poured out its song.
Despite the ground being, in many places, a mud bath, Spring is definitely in the air, with the leaves of Lords and Ladies starting to unfurl, providing flabby spikes on the woodland floor.
The chestnut back of a Kestrel was being highlighted by the sunlight as it hovered above the rough clumps of Tor Grass, hoping I imagine for some activity below from small mammals or insects for breakfast.
In the meadow, appropriately enough, was a Meadow Pipit, a good view for once, allowing the differences between this and the Skylark to be obvious.
Growing from soft cushion like blobs, on the top of some limestones on the dry-stone wall, was some moss, the light shining onto this patch, the green clubs and reddish brown handles beautiful, I am not often stopped in my tracks by a patch of moss!! Probably Tortula muralis – Wall screw-moss.
While still contemplating this I was distracted by the ‘cheese’ call of a Yellowhammer, which I then followed towards the gully to find the bird.