Orchids put on quite a show when they start to emerge
Soon they’ll be the crowning jewel of every grassy verge
I started out my patrol today through South Field, heading towards Small Copse. A Magpie alighted on the top of an Ash tree, and the chirrups of a Wren emanated from a patch of Bramble. Cowslips were scattered across the field and a few Daffodils were growing in clumps beside the path.
Inside Small copse the squeaky calls of Great Tits were heard, and a pair of squabbling Chaffinches spiralled from branch to branch.
Moving on to Saxon Field, the tones of a Robin drifted to my ears from the branches of and Elder. Moving north I came across and orchid bonanza. A couple of early Purple Orchids were in flower, and further up a small patch of emerging Bee Orchids, already quite well developed.
Centenary Meadow was blanketed in an ocean of Cowslips, and above Skylarks rose, performed and then fell to earth again. Awesome. I took in all of this and headed up to Round Down, where I had the Good fortune to spot a Yellowhammer. I spent a little time watching and listening to the bird. My father told me that its call is supposed to sound like someone saying “A little bit of bread and no cheese.” It wasn’t in a singing mood today, so I’ll have to wait till later to test that theory out.
I made my way down past the lighthouse onto the Clifftop Trail. A Rock Pipit and a Jackdaw were pottering around on the path as I approached, but they soon made themselves scarce. The glare of the sun was harsh on the surface of the sea, so I kept my eyes facing inland until I made it to the Observation Point. Around 40 Guillemots were floating on the water, with at least double that number on the ledge. 5 Razorbills accompanied them.
A Willow Warbler and a Blackcap were sighted around the Learning Centre.