A lovely spring morning, though a little more overcast than the last few days. Nonetheless, patches of blue sky and sunshine shine through a veil of high cloud.
A week makes such a difference at this time of year and since my last ‘early rounds’ almost every few yards I’m excited to spot something new!
As I step through the new entrance into the woodland, I am greeted by the drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, high among the branches of a towering Sycamore. Eventually spotted among the vivid green branches, his crimson feathers looking superb in the morning sunshine.
Underfoot, green-yellow Sycamore flowers carpet a stretch of path, while nearby a dense ‘forest’ of Cow Parsley leaves borders the path. The Aviary glade is studded with brilliant yellow Lesser Celandine, with white flowered Ramsons filling the air with their garlicky scent.
Out in the meadows, some fine displays of Cowslips bob in the gentle morning breeze, with Common Spotted and Early Spider Orchids still in bloom.
In the Saxon Field, the tiny, curious looking Adderstongue Fern is showing well – a little like a miniature Cuckoo Pint in shape, but just a couple of centimetres tall.
In Centenary meadow, a single plant of pink-flowered Sainfoin is in bloom – the first I’ve seen this year, with the odd, scattered flower of Pale Flax – it’s flowers facing the morning sun.
The downland is also starting to bloom, with electric blue Chalk Milkwort, lemon yellow Crosswort, ‘dusty’ blue Wild Clary all flowering on the shorter turf.
Whitethroats reel out their scratchy song from patches of Blackthorn, with twittering Linnets, melodious Skylarks, Peregrine, Kestrel and Buzzard all seen on the wing.
Along the cliffs, Guillemots, Razorbills and Fulmars also seen.