A strong easterly wind was blowing across the National Nature Reserve as I began the early rounds. Sheltering on the west side of a large patch of tangled Old Mans’ Beard ropes and fronds, some just emerging into leaf, were a variety of small birds.
The easiest to spot, not only because of its bright orange chest but also its insistent knocking was a male Stonechat, the sight and sound potentially attracting a female which was skulking in the nearby Bramble patch.
Nearer the bottom of the same scrub was a Dunnock, a thin sounding song wafting up on the wind while the more forthright quick-quick-slow of a Chaffinch drew this pale buffy-pink male to my attention as it perched on the end of a just coming into leaf Hawthorn.
On some of our sheltered sunny banks the Primroses are in full bloom, a gorgeous patch of pale yellow amidst the various greens, nearby a small group of Dog Violets providing a delicate splash of purple on the ground.
A patch of tall Daffodils (at least three different varieties in this one group) added more orange and yellow to the colour palette while the Grape Hyacinths, Daisies and Lesser Celandine around the car parks are now all blooming well.
Peering over the top of the downland ridge was the head of a Roe Deer, as I admired through binoculars a second head emerged alongside, neither of these had any antlers, but were turning a lovely shade of chestnut after their dull brown winter pelage.
To the cliffs, where once again the Guillemots and Razorbills were not present, however a fly past by a Peregrine was enjoyed and the Rock Pipit was singing loudly, however catching the eye in the distance was a huge P&O Cruise liner.
As I competed my walk a Bullfinch popped out of the blossoming Blackthorn and House Sparrows chattered from the gutter on the building.