While not the glorious sunshine we have grown accustomed to these last couple of weeks, this morning was a marked improvement on the lazy drizzle of yesterday. This is of course a matter of perspective, our populations of Birds Foot Trefoil and Common Spotted Orchid for example may disagree, they are looking as verdant as I have seen them.
Early on my walk I was greeted by the familiar squawks of a pair of Ravens, and with my attention turned skywards I caught sight of a Swallow fighting unsuccessfully against a gust from the North West. Or perhaps he/she has been spending too much time with the Kestrels?
Pale Flax is in full bloom in many of our meadows, presenting a sea of blue infused often with the hot pink of Sainfoin, which I watched provide breakfast for a sleepy Red Tailed Bumblebee. Later on my route through the Park, butterflies including a Small Heath, a Speckled Wood, and a pair of Common Blues began to emerge and soak up the limited sunshine available. Very relatable.
Hawthorn and Old Man’s Beard along the East-West Drove played host to a small gathering of Wrens, which I did my best to slip by without interrupting.
The path along the coastal ridge was similarly busy with wildlife, a Stonechat gifting me with a perfect view of its morning song performed from the tip of a branch of Blackthorn, while Peregrine Falcons also did their best to dominate the morning soundscape. ‘Cuckoo Spit’ remains abound on much of the Park’s vegetation, which thankfully signals the presence of Froghopper Beetle larvae, rather than that of socially irresponsible Cuckoos.
Other highlights throughout my stroll include an abundance of the harshly named Stinking Iris, whose flowers seem to be everywhere I look at present. As is currently standard, the pleasant steady twitter of airborne Skylarks also accompanied me for the better part of my walk.