A gorgeous morning on the Country Park with bird song galore percolating across the area.
Amongst the repetitious calling of the Chiffchaff, was the squeaky song of the Dunnock and the beautiful sound of the Blackbird. From above the meadows came 3 different Skylark songs all wafting down from on high.
However pride of place for me this morning was the Common Whitethroat, my first of the year. A glorious scratchy song coming from the chestnut brown bird with a white bib. Today the birds were being unhelpful and not perching on the tops of the bushes, flitting around within the mass of wonderful Blackthorn blossom.
The squawk of a Jackdaw drew my attention to the top of round down where a large bird of prey was being harassed before dropping to the ground. As it rose up again the forked tail signified it as a Red Kite, and as it floated slowly overhead the white squares on the wings and almost orange neck could be seen - however not my highlight for the day.
As I studied the furry bodied, long nosed Bee-fly a couple of Swallows swept in from the sea, in the time it took to look at them the Bee-fly had disappeared!
Four species of butterfly spotted with the Peacock and Speckled Wood both along the drove, a Brimstone by the woods and a Comma sunning itself while clinging to the small bright green leaves of a Hawthorn.
Twittering from near the Centre a House Sparrow, while perched in the Sycamore was a Kestrel.
The deep red clumps of the buds of the Ash trees are opening up, while the smell of Balm of Gilead Poplars is travelling through the woodland.
As I looked over out to sea a thick bank of fog was clinging to Ballard Down, while closer in a Gannet was soaring and skimming above the water.
Cowslips galore in most of the meadows, along with Dandelions and Lesser Celandine.