Wafer thin clouds spread sparsely across the bright blue sky.
In the meadows fresh air fills my lungs while all is quiet apart from the distant sound of a Green Woodpecker. The remnants of snow only visible now along the boundary fields of Ballard down. A bright shining light caught my eye in the Small Copse which on further inspection appeared to be a glass bottle, a sign of human impact. I heard the cluck of a Pheasant, when it appeared from the undergrowth it was a male with it’s feathers vivid and bright. A Blue Tit swoops gently along the hedgeline then perches atop the Hawthorn, it’s bright yellow breast highlighted in the sun. A Skylark sings its beautiful song from above.
One Hereford cow enjoyed the fresh Ivy from a high vantage point overlooking the gully. The distinctive crack and rustle of branches breaking makes me hope the rest of the cows are hidden within the scrub somewhere. Two Long-tailed Tits come to greet me and flurry around the Old Man’s Beard and I hear a Dunnock which is hidden within the red tops of the Sycamore.
The sea is calm, blue and inviting, looking further out it is hard to distinguish between sea and sky. Two Rock Pipits float through the gully and along towards Tilly Whim. As I stand and watch 4 Adders above Tilly Whim I can hear the childish laugh of the Guillemots. I drew closer and enjoyed the salty smell of sea air and the warm sunshine reflecting off the sea and warming my face. Over 200 Guillemots and Razorbills today, packed tightly onto the ledge and on the sea their white bellies bright as they emerge from the water spreading their wings wide, as their feet paddle in the clear water. Out over the water Shags are vigorously flapping low to the water, while above 4 Fulmars glide in circles from the cliff.
Back at the learning centre it is a hive of activity and very noisy for writing a diary! Today is our ‘Volunteers Day’ which will include information, training and workshops. Lots of things to keep you busy if you would like to come and volunteer with us, if you are already a volunteer we will see you soon.