The easterly wind again producing a chilly start in the sunshine, the blue sky with the odd wisps of cloud, against which Skylarks were singing, dark dots, pouring forth a constant flourish of music.
Below, the fields are speckled yellow by Cowslips, while the first of the Bulbous Buttercups are emerging and the grass is growing, along the edges the Bracken fronds have suddenly grown tall, the tops furled at present.
As I strolled along the Drove, the scratchy song of the Common Whitethroat came at me from both sides, the brown bird perched on the tops of the Old Man’s Beard and the Hawthorn.
In the background a Chaffinch sped through its song, while a Wren blurted its tune rapidly as a Song Thrush went through its repertoire.
The downland awash with Early Spider Orchids, some paler as they go over, some just emerging. Alongside I spotted a patch of 38 deep purple coloured Green-winged Orchids.
Wonderful to see the two buntings I hope will be summer residents, the male Yellowhammer with a stunning bright yellow head was perched first on the Gorse, then in flight the yellow head so obvious. Not to be outdone the stripey green of the Cirl Bunting was flitting from the ground to the Blackthorn (just by the old Quarr). Really good views of both of these.
A Long-tailed Tit flitted ahead of my – looking like a pom-pom on a stick, furry and unbalanced!
My first few Horseshoe Vetch flowers of the year spotted, always something to look forward to, but then a reminder of how far through the year we are already!
Back to the office to have a look at the Guillemots on the screen and a quick search for an egg – not yet spotted – but the images are now streaming and available on our website so perhaps you will see one?.