Browsing on the fresh leaves of a Hawthorn bush was a female Roe Deer, her coat a dark brown, contrasting with her dirty white rump. A much more unusual sight was that of a Rabbit, these mammals have become a rare creature over the last few years, so great to see this pale grey-brown Rabbit as it sat on the Yellow Meadow Ant hill before slowly bounding off into the Brambles.
Later while measuring a gate (replacement is required), a blurr of rusty brown dashing near my feet and a Weasel disappeared into the dry-stone wall – so sadly only a very quick glimpse.
As I gazed across at the Cowslips, the yellow carpet was interrupted by something bronze, a look through the binoculars and it was a large male Pheasant, whose feathers were catching the sunlight producing this amazing colour.
Overhead, three Skylarks were pouring forth their gorgeous songs, a constant accompaniment to my walk. One spotted high above the blue sky, while yet another rose to flutter just above the field.
The spring flowers are coming up – more each day – with the tall purplish flowers of Honesty, the bright blue of Forget-me-not and Green Alkanet, and the yellows of Dandelions and Lesser Celandines.
The Early Spider Orchid – our Purbeck speciality – is now becoming numerous across the downland slopes, the pale green stem protruding from the turf, topped with the furry brown ‘spider’ (although doesn’t look much like a spider to me!)
From the dry paths, mining bees have been emerging, the small piles of very fine soil telling of their presence. Slowly trundling over the leaves and first flowers of Chalk Milkwort was a Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle. Around the Bluebells a Spotted Bee-fly was also spotted!
Meanwhile our first butterfly transect yesterday saw Peacocks and Speckled Woods plus a Small White.
A flock of Linnets took flight from the Gorse and a male Stonechat was perched on the highest twig of a bare Elder, chatting loudly, while another was in the nearby Wayfaring Tree.
Both Yellowhammer and Cirl Bunting spotted as was a Blackcap.