The gorgeous weather continues with the early sunshine making for another wonderful walk across the meadows which are still full of Cowslips, although many are going over to be replaced by the darker more golden yellow glow of the Bulbous Buttercups.
The taller green stalks with brown heads of the Salad Burnet waving the wind on the downland while below the brilliant blue of bot Chalk and Common Milkwort are abundant. The strong smell of the Horseshoe Vetch caught the nose as I looked at the carpet of bright yellow, fluttering above this was the orange winged Small Copper butterfly.
Trundling in the area was a Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle while the fat dark green larvae of a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle was spotted on the leaves of the Cleavers, with further sightings on the Wild Madder.
Suddenly from amongst the scrub came the most gorgeous fluty song, the loud singing of this Nightingale was unmistakable.
Alongside this was the melodious song of the Skylark, two flying high above the fields as they proclaimed their territory.
As I scanned the bushes to see these birds I caught sight of a Blackcap, just before it started its singing, as well as Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat.
A good number of Swallows were swooping in from the south, and also arrived was a Spotted Flycatcher.
Along the cliff tops a Small Blue butterfly flitted above the yellow flower heads of the Kidney Vetch, while down on the cliff the Guillemots could be heard ‘growling’ noisily while the Fulmars were chuckling to each other.
Dashing across in front of me was a Weasel, while from the long grass came the sounds of small mammals squeaking.
A fantastic view of a male Roe Deer as he carefully selected the Meadow Buttercup flowers from amongst the tough Tor Grass.