Black buds turn to green
Ash trees stretch out with new leaves
It’s time for breakfast
I arrived to a calm and foggy morning, with reasonably good visibility. The car park was well populated with birds. Great Tits, Robins and Blue Tits were all seen and heard. One particular specimen resting in a Hawthorn caught my eye, and I moved closer to get a better look. Upon catching a glimpse of its back, I saw the characteristic markings of a Goldfinch. Startled by my approach, it took flight, along with eight or nine of its peers that I had failed to notice.
Moving on to Long Meadow a pair of Green Woodpeckers arced soundlessly into the branches of a Sycamore. Continuing along the path my ears were rewarded with the distinctive “yaffle” of a third Green Woodpecker up ahead. I love that sound. In the hedgerows, I noticed that Willow, Sycamore and Ash are all budding. Spring is on its way.
Along the path through the woodland, bright patches of Honey Fungus are growing on the log borders, and Herb Robert can be seen by many of the dry stone walls. By the George Burt Seat I caught the clear resonating tone of a Greater Spotted Woodpecker drumming away. A high pitched croaking had me baffled for a while, and I scanned the canopy for the source. After some searching, I spotted the caller, a Carrion Crow. It may have been an alarm call, a mating call or something else. My Corvid is a little rusty I’m afraid.
Next I headed out along the Clifftop Trail, the calm seas below providing a soothing background to my stroll. A Grey Squirrel Made its way along the outstretched branch of a Holme Oak at Caravan Terrace. A Shag made its way east along the surface of the water. A Peregrine Falcon was perched on the cliff edge further west, flashing it’s bright yellow hooked beak as it turned its head towards me. Above the entrance to Tilly Whim caves an Adder was visible, unusually early since the sun had yet to warm the ledge. Maybe it wanted to get in early to grab the best basking spot before the crowd showed up.