The feel of bark chip ‘neath my feet
The birdsong in my ear
The Hawthorn blossom fresh and sweet
The sky so wide and clear
A place for every natural thing
And everything in its place
The gentle arms of coming spring
Hold me in her embrace
My morning started wonderfully today with my favourite kind of weather: a low ambient temperature with the pleasantly warming rays of the sun for company, plus an interesting set of cloud formations. A few low cumulus were showing the early signs of towering and above high cirrus arrayed their ice crystals in a pleasantly artistic backdrop. You couldn’t ask for better.
Entering through the Woodland I picked out Robins, Blackbirds, Blue Tits and the odd Wren among the singers. The rich red berries of Japanese Spindle provided pleasant decoration on my way to Long Meadow, where a semi-familiar song got me curious. Backtracking a short distance, I scanned the still naked branches of a Sycamore until a Song Thrush slid into view, its stripy breast providing excellent camouflage. I knew I recognised that voice.
Continuing to Large Copse I heard a particularly vocal Chaffinch giving it some welly, as well as two loud Jays and a noisy Green Woodpecker. Hawthorn buds were bursting into bloom I looked out towards Old Harry Rocks and took in the scene. Something about the way that everything came together really struck me and for a few seconds I felt transported to somewhere close and yet somehow far away. Nothing good lasts forever and before long I was continuing on again.
A patch of Turkey Tail sat facing an outcrop of False Turkey Tail providing an excellent contrast. A few Jelly Ear wobbled further down the path with the distant trills of Skylarks just barely audible as I left Saxon Field.
I took a steep shortcut down to Lighthouse field, passing yellow Charlock flowers on the way to my destination. To my delight I found a few fungi on display, with what appeared to be Field Mushrooms and Field Blewits tipping their caps to me. I also struck up a conversation with a visitor who had spotted Adders and the Black Redstart at Tilly Whim, plus a Red Legged Partridge by the Globe.