I’m up to my neck in Whitethroats
Far more than I can count
I hear their scratchy song notes
As they launch and then remount
Whitethroats low and Whitethroats high
And Whitethroats in between
So get out there and watch the sky
There’s Whitethroats to be seen
The morning felt distinctly dry as I entered the park through the Woodlands. I searched in vail along the path margins for fungi, but it seemed they were all in hiding. Our Ramsons seemed unperturbed by these conditions, displaying their while flowers without a trace of wilt.
Moving along to the diagonal path I passed a Dunnock singing away and delightfully oblivious to my presence. Dogwood flowers leaned in from the hedge beside me with a few purple Ground Ivy blooms beneath them. As I came to the Car Park I tuned in to the ambient birdsong, with Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Chiffchaffs all merrily in voice.
Heading across South Field Whitethroats and Skylarks were all audible, the former engaging in their signature mini display flights, the latter too distant to make out but undoubtably displaying as well. It’s not a competition folks.
The Saxon Field had become a veritable orchid mecca, with abundant Early Spider and Early Purple proudly showing their colours. Chalk Milkwort and Ribwort Plantain were also making their presence known and a few shy Bluebells huddled under the shelter of blossoming Blackthorn bushes.
Coming up to the Downs I was amazed to see a Song Thrush sitting in full view and singing its distinctive repeating song. I love it when birds behave like they’re described in the guidebooks. I re-routed to avoid disturbing it and marched on to the clifftops and the Diagonal Path. Sneaking in to the Goat Plot I gave the fence line a little check over, noting a few areas that needed attention.
Climbing up the Lighthouse slope I took a closer look at the foliage covering the ground. The Leaves of Common Vetch were interspersed with a few Birds Foot Trefoil and as I reached the summit I even spied a few yellow flowers, yet to unfurl beside their three-pointed leaves.