Gorgeous out on the National Nature Reserve this morning with the sound of Common and Lesser Whitethroats taking pride of place on the downland and along some of the hedgerows, their scratchy songs mixing with the more tuneful Chaffinches, Dunnocks, Wrens and of course Skylarks, what a way to spend some time.
The hedgerows have changed from the blanket of Blackthorn blossom which is now over, to the covering of May blossom on the Hawthorns, patches of white across the park amongst the patches of various greens.
Below the blossom under the hedges a superb display of Bluebells, a deep colour contrasting with the white of Cow Parsley, yellow of Dandelions and Cowslips and the splash of pink from Herb Robert. A patch of Honesty adding more variation as did an area of Bugle, Ground Ivy and Speedwell.
Down in the damp ground of a meadow were the strange pale thick, shiny leaves of Adder Tongue Fern, these growing amongst the Meadow Buttercups, Bulbous Buttercups, Hoary Plantain and Comfrey leaves.
The smell of a Fox caught my nose as I wandered through the start of the woodland, this was followed by a glimpse of a deep orange-red coat and long thick tail disappearing through the trees.
A fabulous array of colours in the woods, the leaves of Horse Chestnuts, Sycamore, Field Maple, London Plane and Elm mixed with the magnificent Beech, which is probably my favourite of all at this time of year.
Below these a carpet of Three-cornered Leeks and Wild Garlic both providing a display of white flowers.
A Buzzard was flying above the fields, having to accept a short half-hearted harassment by a Crow, before continuing to circle higher in the sky. Flitting over were a number of Swallows.