As I walked along the path towards the lighthouse the wonderful sound of 2 Yellowhammers was filling the airwaves. The song catching the ear making a search for these buntings essential, both males were easily spotted due to their brilliant yellow heads and habit of perching on the highest twig on the Blackthorn bush.
In the same area of downland a Common Whitethroat was exercising its song box, the scratchy calling very distinctive, as was the bird as it sat on the top of a Wayfaring Tree, while amongst the tumbling ropes Wild Clematis a female Blackcap skulked.
As I walked around the meadows the deep yellow of the Bulbous Buttercups was dominating, while the delicate blue of Pale Flax provided a lovely contrast. Many of the first swathe of Orchids have gone over, but in the meadows there are still some of the tall pink flowers of Early Purple Orchids showing.
A closer inspection of the mass of plants in the field produced the single pinkish flowers of Common Vetch, the bright pink clumps of Sainfoin, splashes of yellow and orange Bird’s Foot Trefoil and of pale round heads of Black Medic, and many seed heads of Cowslips. Overhead Swallows were swooping.
Through the woods and the sight and smell of Ramsons and Three-cornered Leek in the air, onion and garlic combines. Along the edges of the glades and paths Cow Parsley and Hedge Mustard which is also known as ‘Jack by the hedge’, provide a white and green boundary.
Walking up one of the large Macrocarpa trees was a Treecreeper, a beautifully marked bird and very well camouflaged despite its white front.
A successful boat trip last night, with a good section of birds including Peregrines, Kestrel, Raven, Swifts, House Martins, Shag, Cormorant, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill and 9 Puffins.