Leaving the learning centre a Green Woodpecker “laughed” out of sight. In south field there were four Daffodil clumps most showing some flowers. Whilst two chattering Magpies departed from the canopy of the Large Copse, one remained hopping over the tree’s crowns. Passing the Small Copse a Green Woodpecker flew over the hedgerow that divided fields. There was then a vocal exchange between two of the birds. Unsurprisingly a Carrion Crow duo were in Saxon investigating the sward. A distant Cockerel crowed, there was Skylarks singing and a Cock Pheasant added to the soundscape. A Robin paused upon an Ant hill whilst a male Blackbird crossed my path as I negotiated the wet clay of soggy Sycamore corner.
I admired the work that had been done to resolve three field gate issues on a Tramper route. From the top of a Hawthorn, amongst a dense scrub margin a Chaffinch sang. Up the mounds in field 6 there were the flowers of Hairy Violet amongst the short grass. I noted a murder of half a dozen Carrion Crows upon the coastal ridge. In the south west corner of Hogget’s Meadow, a Bullfinch put in the briefest appearance. I thought I heard a snippet of a Tawny Owl call, but it was interrupted by the male Pheasant again. In the distance Sheep were seen grazing upon the reclaimed landfill site. Although the Dew pond in field 3 held water I was disappointed to see no frog spawn. Luckily, I had already seen Toads mating elsewhere off site.
The Crow murder had grown to 9 near the relic of the Napoleonic signal station. Offshore vessel WH368 was lifted pots whilst a solo Guillemot flew by heading out to sea. Upon the water a Shag preened whilst a Herring Gull simply sat. The sun created a blinding reflection shining off the sea beyond the Lighthouse. At one point I saw what looked like a Skylark chase as a pair of the birds swept and dived like Swallows, most likely regarding a battle over territories. A waist high Elder had begun to push out leaves. I was hopeful of perhaps seeing a butterfly in the sun near the Small Copse, instead I had to be content with a Grey Squirrel and a Blackbird. Back at the centre House Sparrows were active, recently I had seen them going underneath the roof top solar panels.