With the hope of blue skies and sunshine thwarted by a thick layer of fog, the visibility down to 30m at best, I decided to take a patrol around the meadows, partly to check on some water pipe issues on the way.
Heading off, the grass covered in damp water droplets, I was startled by a Pheasant squawking and taking off just a few feet away, undercover of the grey blanket, only just spotted as it crossed ahead of me.
Many of the Blackthorn bushes are now tipped with buds, the pale flowers hidden under the sheaths.
The Cherry Plum however is in full blossom, and has been for a few days, a wonderful mass of delicate petals – looking however a little forlorn this morning.
A good selection of birdsong to identify, including the ‘teacher-teacher’ call of the Great Tit and the fluty song of the Song Thrush, alongside the chattering of the Blue Tits and melody of the Blackbird. A thin song came from a Dunnock and a Robin chortled away. None of these birds were seen today, hidden amongst the cloud shrouded hedgerow.
I was lucky enough to spot two Skylarks which were having a bit of a squabble about 1foot above the ground, before they separated and rose into the cloud.
As I looked down at the plants beneath my feet (not much point looking up!), I realised once again how few leaves I could recognise at this time of year, without their flower heads to help.
Happily the Lesser Celandine (even though the flowers heads were all closed up) is easy to identify! Growing out of the shorter grass on the top of a Meadow Ant hill were the thin stalks of Common Chickweed.
Common Whitlow Grass also now emerging on the downs.
We are having to do some urgent tree safety work this week, mostly on Ash and Elm near the paths which have succumbed to their respective diseases and have been dropping branches. Please follow any diversions of directions from the cutting crew.