Around me the world of wildlife was amazing, trees and flowers bursting into flower, bud and leaf and birds into song.
Out across the meadows to check that the Hereford herd of cattle were Ok, all seemed well as I listened to the loud scratching song of a Common Whitethroat amongst the cacophony of other songs including Chaffinches and Wrens blasting out, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes both perched on the perches provided by Elder and Hawthorn, and the incessant ‘teacher-teacher’ of a Great Tit.
But over all of these were the Skylarks, 6 counted in full voice as I made my way to the downland, quite glorious.
Zooming through were a few Swallows, the dark blue backs catching the early sunlight making them shine and gleam. A flock of 10 or so Meadow Pipits took flight from the slopes while standing on a number of different branches of yellow flowered covered Gorse were Stonechats, the males dapper in their black heads, orange chests and white collars. Nearby, less conspicuous was a Willow Warbler watched as it moved along the hedgerow.
As I scanned the area, Linnets and Goldfinches both flew into view, a Raven croaked loudly from the air and a Kestrel hovered. I had just about given up looking for the patrol when the unmistakable song of a Yellowhammer arrived. The ‘little-bit-o-bread-no cheeeeese’ sound coming from the large clump of leaf covered Blackthorn in the gully – first one I’ve heard this year, so hopefully this wonderful bird will breed here this year.
The trouble with watching the birds is that you miss some of the wonderful flowers. However the ground has a yellow hue to it as the Cowslips are in full bloom, scattered across the turf the subtle green and brown Early Spider Orchids and the more brash Early Purple Orchids.
The strange green leaf and spike of the Adder’s Tongue Fern, delicate Hairy Violet and the fluffy yellow heads of Glaucous Sedge to be spotted along with the splashes of pale yellow of Wild Cabbage.
A fluttering Orange Tip noted as was Holly Blue, Red Admiral and Wall Brown butterfly.