Wet ground following a welcome 12.8mm of rainfall overnight, surely to give a boost to the park’s flora in the coming days. Turkey-tail Brackets grow along the damp logs and Brown-lipped Snails slide along the dry stone walls. Pretty pink Herb Robert in flower, and growing from cracks between the stones.
Thin high-pitched notes from a Firecrest, and a Blackcap’s erratic song sounds from the treetops in the woodland. The latter appears, mostly grey feathers, with its namesake - a black cap upon its head. It swoops down into a glade between the Holm Oaks.
Here, a thick understorey of green in competition for sunlight. Bramble smothers the low Wild Arum, and clambers over the Privet, yet stifled itself by the intertwining Honeysuckle. The thicket provides cover yet more birds; Robin and Wren calling from within.
The next glade along the Pine-Cliff Walk is carpeted with a layer Creeping Buttercup, each leaf speckled with white blotches. Spikes of Horsetail poke through, with Willowherb and Wood Dock leaves also breaking out above.
Fresh pink blossom has appeared upon the Apple which is enjoyed momentarily by a Speckled Wood butterfly. A Jay swoops over the woodland canopy which is gradually filling with leaves, much of the Ash and Sycamore still to follow.
Towards Sunnydale the groundcover grows thick with a dense swathes of Celandine. Patches of nodding Bluebell are pleasing to see, especially where varied between white, blue, and pink. The bulbous Ramson flower heads have now also popped open to reveal a clusters of star-shaped white flowers.
Below the cawing Rooks, 7-Spot Ladybirds sit upon Nettle leaves in the Aviary Glade. Also a lone Black Oil Beetle climbing a stem. Fronds unfurl upon the shadier banks, Male and Hart’s Tongue.