A curious morning. Like many people I walked to this work this morning in anticipation of what the next few weeks will hold. Along Bon Accord Road an even more curious Roe Deer strutted into a driveway, probably wondering where everyone has gone, and taking the opportunity to see what tasty garden delights can be found closer to town…
The woodland is calm. Great Tits, Robins, and Chiffchaffs call out in song from high above. A fresh carpet of green lines the woodland floor as the first spring plants emerge; Ramsons, Daffodils, and Bluebells. The Sun shines through the open canopy above – but not for long, as the buds of Sycamore, Horse Chestnut and Field Maple burst open to greet the longer days and milder weather.
A Wood Pigeon rustles clumsily nearby, appearing to be somehow stuck in a tree. He swings around, noisily flapping his wings but remaining caught on something. I can’t really work it out, a vine of Old Man’s Beard perhaps? In a panicked and frantic flap he frees himself and swoops gently to a branch below as if nothing had happened. Smooth.
I continue up along the coastpath, sheltered from the easterly winds by a thick barrier of Holm Oak. Behind the dry stone wall to my left, the cliff drops away, exposing a deep woodland below on the undercliff. Across the tops of the Black Pines and great blue seascape is revealed, and the prevailing winds blow through me. A Kestrel calls out a high pitched screech from somewhere high above the woodland.
Further on, Grey Squirrels scurry and clamber out of view at the sight of me. I head down past the Castle to the ledge at Caravan Terrace. We removed scrub from this area last year and it’s beginning to sprout an abundance of pretty wildlfowers; Primroses, Celendines, and Herb Robert. Two Peacock Butterflies dance circles around the flowers in the lee of the breeze. Spring has certainly arrived!