Even though the skies were grey, coming from above was the beautiful song of a Skylark, this was accompanied by 2 others also in full voice across the meadows. A little later while I was on the top of the downs another Skylark rose from the ground in front of me, and proceeded to flutter just above my eyeline providing a magnificent opportunity to study and enjoy this bird.
Standing on the bare stones was a Wheatear, this male more squatting than the usual erect birds, but unmistakable never-the-less, with its grey, black, buff and white markings, including a small white forehead patch.
Near the Learning Centre the scratchy song of a Common Whitethroat was being emitted from the warblers as they perched in amongst the blossom of the Blackthorn and the branches of the Sycamore.
As I walked past the Cowslips carpeted meadows the reeling sound of a Grasshopper Warbler caught my ear, not a chance of seeing it deep in the scrub.
Flitting overhead a few Swallows and a couple of House Martins, plus some Meadow Pipits all coming in from the south.
As April heads towards its end, the flowers in the fields are starting to change with the yellow Dandelions flowers turning to white clocks, the tall stems of Ribwort Plantain emerging some now with flowers, and the bright yellow Bulbous Buttercups also catching the eye.
The three spring orchids are now in bloom, with Early Spiders scattered across the downs and the meadows, Green-winged and Early Purple Orchids, many of which are at the edge of the scrub in amongst the Cowslips.
Trundling across the ground was a Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle and a huge fat Oil Beetle.
Using the cliff camera a quick count of the Guillemots revealed 90 on the lower ledge and 158 on the upper….the first egg is due to be laid any day now.