The sound of a Chiffchaff came to me through the air, the distinctive chiff and chaffs easily identified, this small warbler then spotted from the bare branches of an Elder.
The tinkling calling of Goldfinches added to the soundscape, as a small flock were perched in the tops of the Sallow tree.
As I patrolled towards the meadows the tumbling song of a Chaffinch made me search the top of the hedge line to spot this pinkish coloured male.
Turning into Johnston Meadow the glorious song of a Skylark was to be heard. For once the bird hovering just above the ground allowing a good view, (rather than the usual dot in the sky).
Below the Skylark, a scattering of Cowslips are starting to show, a delicate yellow hue across the meadow.
Towards the Quarr area, a Dunnock was singing, the dark grey headed bird perched on the large patch of Bramble.
Suddenly overhead a squawk of a Carrion Crow captured my attention and as it did, a Red Kite came into view followed by the Crow. A Red Kite is fairly unusual here, they have yet to become residents as they have in many other parts of the country. Always interesting to watch the swishing of the forked tail as it altered its direction, barely taking any notice of the harassing crow.
On the downland slopes a few Hairy Violets have emerged, providing small splashes of purple in amongst the tufts of grass. From one of the tufts of rough Tor Grass, a Meadow Pipit took flight, emitting a piping call before dropping down onto the top of a Yellow Meadow Ant Hill.
In the Blackthorn scrub, now covered in buds, but no blossom, a Blackbird was singing, while a flock of 6 Long-tailed Tits flitted in a blurr across in front of me, the long tails bobbing as they went.
Last night we put the moth trap out, a few species seen including Dotted Border and appropriately March Moth.