A Goldfinch chattered from the top of a Sycamore beside the centre. Around the corner Ash buds had progressed to unfurling to reveal parts of leaves and flowers. A Whitethroat called from a Bramble clump, meanwhile a male Great Tit attempted but appeared not to land in a Field Maple. There was certainly another bird fleetingly seen so perhaps it was seen off or this was a quick exchange of nest duty! The “Bee” Bollard into Skipworth Meadow was not occupied however, there was the sound of bussing insects around.
Through Skipworth the path needed mowing, with Tor Grass growth thicker upon it than the meadow itself! This in part due to local fertilization from dog urine and grass cuttings. Red Clover flowers had emerged whilst the flowers and tendrils of Tufted Vetch climbed up grass blades. A cluster of Early Purple Orchid flowers stems appeared to have one third of their flowers have gone over. A stem of Yellow Vetchling showed its distinctive leaves which were joined directly to its stem.
At Smithfield boundary trees include White Poplar in leaf and Monterey Cyprus showing cones smaller than petit pois! From somewhere nearby came the cock crow of Pheasant. I heard the drumming of an unseen Woodpecker.
Amongst the Woodland I delighted at the show of Ramson flowers beside the woodchip path. A Hoverfly appropriately stayed between the path edges defined by recently placed and pegged logs. Meanwhile Three-Cornered Leek blooms were alongside the winterbourne. This seasonal water course, consisting of puddles today, was being investigated by a Robbin. Durlston Bay had a lightly rippled surface and was being travelled across by an empty yellow hulled pot fishing vessel setting out to lift pots.
Upon entering Long Meadow, the sound of Skylarks travelled from neighbouring meadows. The Horse Chestnut was in full bloom displaying white inverted chandlers of flowers.
Stour Valley Ringing Group reported the capture and ring of: seventeen Willow Warblers; three Whitethroat; Robins and Blue Tits. Two of the latter were apparently females off the nest. On handling the birds, it was seen that they had shed downy breast feathers to reveal pink flesh under their outer feathers. Ian explained that this enabled closer surface contact between eggs and veins to allowing good heat transfer! Dolphin Watcher Ann recorded 89 Guillemots, 8 Razorbills, 3 Fulmars, 1 Shag, 1 Swallow but only 9 Jackdaw on the clifftops this morning.