The sound of a Green Woodpecker rung out across the Country Park as I began my walk, this was echoed by a second one. The first was standing on the top of a Yellow Meadow Ant hill, while the second was in flight.
Out across the meadows the wheezing call of Greenfinches was vying for airspace with the squeaky song of a Dunnock and the rapid burst from a Wren. Overpowering all of these however were the three Skylarks, spewing forth a wonderful tune from high in the sky.
As I scanned the meadow for the earliest signs of Cowslips, tiny green heads covering the yet to burst open yellow flowers, through my binoculars the legs of a Roe Deer appeared. This female so beautifully camouflaged against the dull brown backdrop of the bare Blackthorn scrub.
Onto the downs and a Meadow Pipit took flight, fluttering up, hovering for a short moment before lowering back down again, a definite sign of Spring. However my searching still did not yield my first Wheatear of the season.
To the coast where Rock Pipits were flitting around the grey rock face and Jackdaws cackled.
A sudden flash of red brought my attention to a patch of Privet, and a Black Redstart. This bird a pale grey with a bright red tail jerking up and down as it perched.
All around the sound of Stonechats, their dark heads and white necks and wing flashes easily spotted as they stood atop the Gorse, which is now covered in yellow pea-like flowers.
Across the short turf Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetles slowly plodding, while clouds of Winter Gnats hung in the air.