On my drive up I scattered a Magpie and a trio of Woodpigeon upon the approach road. Before Stuart joined me a pair of Chaffinches took a brief rest in the centre side Sycamore. Looking down Long Meadow it was difficult to determine if the hedgerow was showing Blossom or Lichen! Dogwood showed finger nail size leaves and Field Maple showed leaves in various states of emergence along with a flush of Hawthorn leaves. There were patches of Blackthorn blossom towards the fields bottom end but lichen dominated still. The Carrion Crow quartet flew up from the meadow whilst below amongst the grass Spiders webs set to catch crawling insects were picked up by the dew. Less than a foot tall a Yew sapling appeared in the meadow corner some fifty metres from the parent plant in the woodland.
Upon the woodland floor a carpet of green included Ramson leaves, Broad Buckler and Harts Tongue Ferns. Upon the underside of the latter fronds, the strips of spores were seen. Near the Egyptian bench several Bay trees had flowers open. I had the brief glimpse of a Firecrest amongst the coastal tree cover. Stuart spotted the red fruit upon the “jagged leaved Laurel” or Japanese Laurel. Further up the coast path a Japanese Spindle had a very small group of fresh leaves which showed a creamy edge “variegated” leaf unlike any of the others.
Upon Solent road I had to point out the dried woody stem and spent flowers of a Broomrape beneath a Hawthorn. The former taps into the roots of other plants to improve its nutrient take up. Nearby Solent House’s verge bounty of Violets flowers. In Smith field three Dandelion seed clocks were amongst the grassland along with a pair of Magpies. It was from here that we heard the drumming of an unseen Woodpecker. Stuart asked after the wall side flush of giant glass-like blades. I explained this was the invasive garden escape Montbreccia. In a field corner some straight white hairs upon Blackthorn might have been those of a Badger. In the woodland Stuart spotted the red fruit upon the “jagged leaved Laurel” or Japanese Laurel. Further up the coast path a Japanese Spindle had a very small group of fresh leaves which showed a creamy edge “variegated” leaf unlike any of the others. In Skipworth Meadow a few wavy edge creamy brown mushroom parasols hinted at the makings of a Fairy Ring.
Back at the centre Mick reported from his pre-walling stint of Bird Ringing the capture of six Chiff Chaffs, three Bullfinches, Pied Wagtails, and Goldfinch amongst others.