The early bird, it gets the worm, that’s what they always say
But for the early worm
There’s a different lesson to learn
You should have got up late today
Before I start, I would like to issue a retraction. In my last diary entry (10th of April) I claimed to have found an emerging Bee Orchid. It was in fact an Early Spider Orchid. I will hang my head in shame for the rest of the day.
A beautiful morning today. A glorious blue sky laced with cirrus clouds. The car park was alive with the sounds of Great Tits and Blue Tits. There was also a Wheatear perched in the shrubbery by the Learning Centre. I set off to the woodlands, admiring the grassy verges as I went, adorned here and there by Lesser Celandine and the occasional patch of Bluebells. A Blackbird hopped past with an Earthworm in its mouth. Well, it was early.
I paused to take in the view by the Brady bench, a peaceful, flat calm ocean, a very relaxing scene. Continuing on, I headed towards the Aviary area seat, patches of Herb Robert protruding from the walls lining the path. A rustling nearby drew my eyes to a Grey Squirrel scrabbling around on the forest floor, before promptly dashing up the trunk of a Holm Oak. I wonder what it was up to?
Green Woodpecker yaffles met my ears as I passed a large patch of Wild Garlic. The bed had started to produce a few delicate white flowers, adding a pale patchwork covering to the sea of green.
The logs lining the woodland supported a couple of interesting specemins, including a Bracket Fungus (Sorry I can’t be more specific) and an Orange Brain Fungus.
Crossing Long Meadow I spotted a couple of Chaffinches, and some Speckled Wood butterflies. A Magpie executed a very elegant dive off the branch of a Sycamore, flaring its wings just before it hit the ground and skirting low over the grass. Another agile flyer.