Guest diary : “This morning I accompanied Katie on the morning walk. Heading into the park from the learning centre there were plenty of Chiffchaffs & Common Whitethroats tweeting in the trees as well as a Magpie sitting in a tree away to our right. I heard a Skylark, quite loud as it was hovering in the next field over.
Near the Lighthouse I spotted a Meadow Pipit hovering before it swooped down. Here I was introduced to a rare plant called the Early English Gentian, this rare plant is only found in England. A Whitethroat flew past as we heading along the cliffs above Tilly Whim caves. On the cliffs below there were plenty of Guillemots as well as the occasional Razorbills.
Guest diary written by Ben Delahay
The meadows are full of yellows as the Bulbous Buttercups, Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Black Medic are now in full bloom while the paler Cowslips are going over. Amongst these the clock heads of Dandelions can be spotted, as well as some remaining flowers. A subtle blue wash of Pale Flax and the occasional bright pink flash of Sainfoin add to the enjoyment.
The sounds of Bullfinches calling from the May blossom (Hawthorn) covered hedgerow, were accompanied by the songs of Chaffinch and Wren, plus the Chiffchaffs calling their name.
Towards the downland a flock of Linnets twittered and then landed in the yellow flowered Gorse patch while amongst the clambering Old Man’s Beard a Blackcap was spied, the greyish body and black cap bobbing as it moved.
A quick flash of red as a bird flew across the sky and alighting on the trunk of an Oak tree was a Great Spotted Woodpecker, the black and white marking making it quite obvious.
Yesterday in the early evening 3 Kestrels were soaring around the copse, while below browsing on the newly emerged leaves of the Blackthorn was a male Roe Deer, his coat unusually marked with splodges of white. A Fox trotted across the path and Pipistrelle Bats flitted as the dusk approached.