Another beautiful morning, with the sound of Robin, Chaffinch and Blackbird as I entered the Country Park. The air was a little crisp, and Taskers path was lined with frost covered Nettle and Ivy. After months of home-schooling the day has arrived where children don their uniform and head back into the classroom, hopefully they will all get to enjoy the joys of spring at the weekends. A group of Sparrows sit within a Clematis covered Sycamore, unusually quiet for such a vocal bird. The sight of a Great-tits breast shines bright yellow in the morning sunlight.
It’s that time of year again when you get neck ache and tiptoe across paths searching the ground for spring flowers. Across Johnston and Centenary Meadow these will soon be filled with the spectacular bright yellow scene of Cowslips, now just a few shine bright. Two Carian Crows rummage around the grass, Skylarks hover and sing above while one sits in the longer meadow grass and a Stonechat perches high on an Elder tree. The Elders Lichen covered crinkly bark is now starting to leaf. A Bullfinch flew across a gateway as I turned to the sound of a Pheasant, the vivid yellow of Gorse is a sweet scent as I walked past.
“The land is full of happy birds
And flocks of sheep and grazing herds.
I hear the songs of larks that fly
Above me in the breezy sky.
I hear a little lambkins bleat;
My honey-scent is rich and sweet.
Beneath the sun I dance and play
In April and in Merry May.
The grass is green as green can be;
The children shout at sight of me.”
The Cowslip Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker
Down on the cliffs a Rock Pipit moved around the cliff top, where Jackdaws, Rock Pigeons, Fulmars, Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls also sat. The Guillemot ledge was jam packed 50+ and on the water 200+ bobbed around with 20+ Razorbills and a Shag in the mix, its yellow beak shining bright in the sun.
In the Hide Chaffinch, Magpie, Robin, Wren, Great-tit, Blackbird and Long-tailed Tits were all seen enjoying the bird feeders and wildlife pond.