As I walked out across the National Nature Reserve where the northerly wind was making the leaves and blossom of the Hawthorn waft, the sound of Common Whitethroats was filling the air, the scratchy calling being accompanied by the melodic song of a Blackbird which was perched on the Wayfaring tree which was covered in its circular flower heads.
Above, Skylarks singing loudly, two tiny dots spotted against the blue sky as I looked up. Across the meadow a gorgeous hue of blue and yellow as the Pale Flax and Bulbous Buttercups start to take hold.
A few butterflies noted as I strolled, including the rusty orange brown Wall Brown, which was for once basking on an Ivy leaf, a Speckled Wood fluttering in the copse, a Red Admiral on the bright green leaves of Black Bryony and the brown and grey flittering of a Small Heath as it rose from the grass.
The seeping call of a Greenfinch made me look up at a Field Maple, the bird sporting a yellow stripe as well as its green, while the tree is covered in fresh pale green leaves and flower heads.
Back along a scrubby hedgerow and Green Alkanet (tall with bright blue flowers) showing superbly, as was the mush more delicate pale pink Herb Robert, while Ground Ivy provides purple flowers low down.
A sudden movement from the Blackthorn and a Cirl Bunting appeared allowing a reasonable look before it dropped out of sight again.
Lots of leaves of Lords and Ladies, but also just emerging a few of the brown flowering spikes poking up, this and Adder’s Tongue Fern have a similar look to me, but on very different scales.
Last night our night-time camera spotted three Badgers trundling up the grassy path, while on yesterday’s guided walk a Brown Rat made and appearance and this morning a Field Mouse.
All of our four spring orchids still in flower : Early Spider Orchids, Early Purple Orchids, Green-winged Orchids and Twayblade.