A morning of changeable conditions to say the least! Leaving home in brilliant sunshine, I arrived at work to find the Park shrouded in thick fog, which cleared within half an hour to brilliant sunshine, before descending again as I returned to the office!
Nonetheless, every day brings new signs of spring. Just outside the Learning Centre, a patch of Whitlow Grass is in bloom, with a large patch of Early Scurvy Grass flowering near the lighthouse – neither of these tiny, white-flowered plants are actually grasses!
In the meadows, constellations of yellow Cowslips dapple the grass, with curly fronds of Crow Garlic poking up around them. Along the hedgerows, the black spotted leaves of Early Purple Orchid are starting to appear, with many rosette leaves of Early Spider Orchid on the Downs (though none in bloom yet, unless you know better?).
The scent of Blackthorn blossom fills the air, attracting the attention of queen Buff-tailed Bumble Bees, while Hairy Violets are in flower on the downs, with Dog Violet in flower in the woods.
Some of the brilliant blue flowers of Green Alkanet in bloom on the way down to the Castle, with some patches of ‘mouse-scented’ Figwort in the Car Parks.
A Bullfinch squeaks from the scrub in the Gully – a flash of attention-grabbing crimson from his breast, with a charming family of Long-tailed Tits along a hedgerow in Centenary Meadow.
Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blue and Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Song Thrush, Blackbird and Green Woodpecker also seen or heard.
Along the clifftop, Rock Pipits dart along the clifftop, while below, Guillemots growl from the water, along with a few Razorbills. Fulmars and Great Black-backed Gulls glide above them, with Shag, Raven, Peregrine and Kestrel also out and about.
A Wall Lizard basks on the Timeline wall just outside the Castle, with a female Adder basking at Tilly Whim.