A glorious early morning to be out on the Park with the sun shining brightly across the blue/grey sea. As we walked out across the downland looking at the habitats the cackle of 50 or so Jackdaws filled the air, only out done by the loud low croak of a Raven, this massive corvid floating along showing off its long wings, wedge shaped tail and shaggy throat.
Many of the small patches of Gorse will be cut over the next couple of days to improve and increase the short limestone grassland turf, so expect a bonfire of two as we burn the vegetation. Other patches of Gorse, much of which is now coming into flower are to be left to provide breeding habitat for the many of the winter resident birds.
Birdsong is now being heard all across the Reserve with the loud calls of Wren blasting from the scrub, while the varied songs of Great Tits competes with that of Robins and Dunnocks.
A sudden squawking cackle came from low amongst the Blackthorn, where a Blackbird emerged, the dark feathers and yellow beak making this male unmistakable. Following this was a second more speckled bird, which was a juvenile Blackbird.
The Hereford Cattle were looking fabulous this morning as the sun was catching their chestnut coloured hides, these animals have now been moved from the Lighthouse field into the next one westward, so please be aware of the electric fence as you walk.
Taking off from the grass was a Green Woodpecker, a ‘yaffle’ and the up and down flight as it made its way across the sky, earlier I had heard the sound of drumming coming from the woods, the Great Spotted Woodpecker was somewhere near the top of one of the trees.
Last night trotting up the path was a Badger, this lumbering mammal scuttling as it heard me and as it ran towards the gap in the wall where it disappeared into the meadow.