An overcast morning, with the sun occasionally peeking through the layer of grey clouds, a dark brooding colour in the distance towards Corfe.
As I set off towards the meadows the cackling ‘yaffle’ of a Green Woodpecker rung in the air, the call coming from amongst the Willow trees of the copse.
Chittering from the hedgerow were Blue Tits, their blue caps and yellow fronts easily spotted as they moved between the grey ropes of Wild Clematis and the dark berries of Ivy. Meanwhile a striped yellow front indicted the arrival of a Great Tit, which then started to call loudly, on this occasion its ‘Teacher-teacher-teacher-teach’ song. A pile of white feathers under the Blackthorn looked like the remains of a Wood Pigeon.
The ground now beginning to show new life with fresh leaves of Stinging Nettles, Lords and Ladies and Goosegrass occupying the area below the scrub alongside the Stinking Iris whose bright orange berries are still in abundance.
Above the fields a gorgeous song of a Skylark was being sung, just as I was talking to a visitor about why we ask people to keep to the main paths, and as if making a point about being disturbed another Skylark took flight from the middle of the meadow.
Towards the gully the squeaking call of a Bullfinch was echoed by that of another of these extremely smart birds. The songster spotted in the Hawthorn, the brilliant pink chest contrasting with the pale grey and black of its body, on take- off the brilliant white rump was spotted. In total I was lucky enough to watch four Bullfinches around the area.
A charm of Goldfinches dropped into the English Oak tree, this is one of the few trees that still has its brown leaves from last year attached.
In the woods the Spring Crocus still blooming, the petals a pale lilac with faint stripes, while a scattering of Narcissus are in bloom as are some Daffodils outside the castle (although some of these are going over already!)