As I headed off for a change towards the woods the sound of a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming was a steady accompaniment for me. Which continued until I reached the area of Sycamore and London Planes were the bird was – it then promptly stopped meaning I never saw it!.
During my travels a Green Woodpecker fluctuated up and down along the meadow edge, the sunlight catching the vibrant greens and yellows of this fairly large bird. Below it the meadows are bursting into life with a scattering of Bulbous Buttercups amongst the Cowslips and Dandelions. A mass of hard heads of Hoary Plantain now starting to produce their white ring of flowers and the smaller fluffy yellow tufts of Glaucous Sedge.
Elsewhere on the Park the Early Spider Orchids are doing particularly well, some much taller than usual, maybe the recent weather suits them? Early Purple and Green Winged Orchids also flowering alongside the occasional patch of one of our other specialities the Early English Gentian - small purple flower on a short grey-green spike.
Insects numerous along the hedgerow, with a Bee-fly hovering then landing on an Ivy leaf, fantastic chance to see the furry body and long proboscis which make it look triangular.
On the flowers of the Bird Cherry lots of solitary Mining Bees (species not identified) and hanging down the strange St Mark’s Fly, legs dangling, body hairy but completely harmless.
The moth trap last night captured a few species including Common and Powdered Quakers, Hebrew Characters, Brimstone and a Pale Prominent.
Wandering across the path was a Glow-worm larvae, the flattened body of a this beetle with orange spots along its segmented body, probably in year 2 of its 3 year lifecycle.
Out over Durlston Bay a Buzzard emerged and began a few circles, while around the corner the Guillemots have just started laying eggs.
Returning via the Cattle to re-erect the electric fenceline the Common and Lesser Whitethroats were in good voice and two Goldfinches admired themselves.