The wonderful scratchy song of a Whitethroat carrying through the air, this predominantly brown warbler perched on the top of the Blackthorn scrub, as it sung the white throat became more pronounced.
Nearby the singing of a Blackbird was adding to the morning chorus as was the churr of Blue Tits and the various calls and songs of Great Tits and Chaffinches.
The meadows are still covered in Cowslips a glorious yellow covering, which is now beginning to be overtaken by Bulbous Buttercups, and the various greens of the stems of Ribwort Plantain, Pale Flax and grasses.
From above three different meadows came the glorious sound of Skylarks, the brown birds fluttering in the sky, the song pouring down. I always think the song sounds better when I have also found the bird, even if just a brown dot high in the sky. Unfortunately over the Bank Holiday our ‘Save the Skylarks’ signs and temporary fencing has been removed, so please continue to walk on (and keep your dogs to) the paths around the edges of the meadows, so allowing the Skylarks to nest in the fields away from our disturbance.
A sudden flash of bright pink brought my attention to the top of a flowering Wayfaring Tree where a Bullfinch was sitting, the female nearby was much less noticeable until they took off and the white rump showed.
The downland is still covered in Orchids, the tall erect Early Purple towering over the more delicate and unusual Early Spider Orchids, while the Green winged is generally a much deeper purple colour.
Large swathes of the short turf is now covered in Milkwort, the vivid blue mixing with the golden yellow of Horseshoe Vetch as it too emerges. Eyebright and Common Vetch also out, while by the cliffs Thrift and Sea Campion in flower.
The warm sunshine of yesterday encouraged me to do the west butterfly transect, where Wall Brown was the most numerous and widely spread seen in 6 or the 8 sections. Small Copper, Holly Blue, Peacock, and my first Small Heath and Dingy Skipper of the year.