It’s a sunny and still start to the day, from the car park a Chiffchaff, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, and Goldfinches can be heard around me. Walking on into the Learning Centre, I see a Mistle Thrush to the left of me in front of the scrubby Hawthorne and Blackthorne, with Stinking Iris on the ground. A quick look in the bird hide and it looks as though a Badger has been in there as a black bin is on the ground (where bird seed is often kept), outside a Great Tit is close by the hide window and another on the bird feeder. Leaving, a Chaffinch is seen up in a Sycamore and a Dunnock is heard.
In Field 34, another Chiffchaff sings away, I hear what sounds to be a Buzzard towards Durlston Bay (Merlin confirmed a Buzzard – but I did not see it), a Whitethroat sings away up on a Field Maple, and Long-tailed Tits can be seen flying from hedges of Blackthorn and Hawthorn.
A Magpie greets me as I walk into South Field. Here, bussing with the yellow of Cowslips and Dandelions, as well as leaves from a flowerless Early-purple Orchid. Loud echoes from a Great Tit are singing in Large Copse, and a Greenfinch is heard in the Hedgerows.
Over into Saxon Quar, lots of Early-spider Orchids dominates the area, a small patch of Early-purple Orchids starts to bloom purple flowers, Wild Tyme can be spotted, Common Daisys are prominent towards the south of the Quar, and small Wild Carrot looks to be starting to grow. The sounds of Skylarks, a Dunnock, Wren and Whitethroat are heard whilst admiring the Orchids.
Still in Saxon, heading towards Lighthouse Field, a Song Thrush can be spotted on top of European Gorse and Hawthorn, while a subtle grey/green colour of a Willow Warbler is also seen as it flies off the same patch of scrub as the Song Thrush is remaining on. All the while, a Jay can be heard screeching in Small Copse, and a couple of House Martins fly towards South Field. I get to a gate that leads into Lighthouse Field, the sea looks so calm and gentle.
Into Lighthouse Field, Senior Ranger Katie can be spotted walking up Field 10 (likely looking around for more Orchids), Crows are heard above me and a male Blackbird in front of me. Towards some brambles to the left of me Winter-heliotrope can be spotted with Bluebells, and a bee species (to fast for me to identify) flies close to the Bluebells and off again, an Early-Purple Orchid is also spotted in the field.