Heading out through the meadows the hedgerows are smothered in snowy white Blackthorn blossom. The meadows are covered in a smattering of pale-yellow Cowslips, trumpet shaped flower heads drooping over on there tall flowering stem.
Heading into the hay rake quar to see my first of many Early Spider Orchids this morning. Though only small there out in great numbers here and easy to spot. The call of a Chaffinch pulls my attention away from the orchids to a Sycamore over the way, where the bird perches on a branch to sing. Heading through the Saxon, Sycamore seedlings can be seen springing up all along the edges.
Along the top of gully, a smattering of Bluebells has popped up in the glade cleared this winter, the purple / blue flowers standing out against the green of the grass. In the verges Crosswort is also coming out into flower, though not quiet as impressive a display as Bluebells the pale-yellow star like flowers also hold their own charm, they form a ring of tiny flowers round the plants stem between the leaves. Where grass and scrub have been cleared Bracken has popped up, the leaves still tightly furled at the ends of the tall stems.
Into six and up the hill to the ridge line, I’m welcomed with the tuneful song from a Skylark somewhere out of sight. As I make my way through into field 10 I’m surrounded by Early Spider Orchids, trying not to stand on them becomes quite the mission. I have come here with the intention of finding my first Green Winged Orchid of the year, it doesn’t take long to spot the purple flower towards the bottom of the field. 10 orchids are in flower in this small clump of them and more can be seen off into the distance. I’m now looking forward to counting them with the work party soon!
Up the light house road where I also spot another first for myself of the year, two White Throats pull my attention with there scratchy call then I spot them in two opposite scrub patches.