Everything in nature sings to those who care to listen
The gusting wind, the reading waves, a sigh or roar to christen
Each breath and break and in their wake a thousand singers more
That add the notes up from their throats to those that came before
A tree can sing by creak and swing, the wind plays yawning tunes
And while they sway the crickets play alongside seabirds croons
The earth, the sky and all between make music crisp and clear
Everything in nature sings to those who care to hear
The songs of Chaffinches and Wrens mingled together as I entered the Woodlands this morning, their notes interlocking and overlapping as I strode past the yellowing remains of Ransoms steadily being supplanted by Enchanters Nightshade. Though Fungi are still practically non existent, a few fresh blooms of Rosy Crust had appeared here and there, as well as a Mystery Fungi that I will (hopefully) report on in the not too distant future.
After more unsuccessful fungi hunting through the woods I arrived at the observation point. Our family of Kestrels were active, each bird making short flights from the ledge for various purposes, presumably the Kestrel equivalent of telling your kinds to go outside and play while you do the shopping. Further down I came across what could have been a Dark Bush Cricket, but it hopped away before I could take a photograph.
Fulmars were on the wing, as well as passing Shags and a Lulworth Skipper. Marbled Whites and Meadow Browns flapped an improvised path through the air while a Peregrine Falcon perched motionless on the cliff edge, holding vigil like a gargoyle over the waves below.
My ears became aware of a high frequency hum as I walked, just on the edge of my reception range. Several grasshoppers and crickets have songs that aren’t audible to adults, this one must have been somewhere near the threshold. A few more acoustically courteous performers included Stonechats, Whitethroats, Skylarks and a Yellowhammer which all had the good manners to sing nearer the middle of my audible range.
Walking back through the Meadows I enjoyed the presence of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, flitting about Birds Foot Trefoil, Chalk Milkwort, Restharrow and a few unexpectedly late Pale Flax. My last sighting was a Red Admiral, bravely climbing skyward in the rising wind.