The meadows are beginning to burst into life, as the Cowslips are rearing their heads providing patches of yellow, however another week with a bit of rain and sunshine and the display will be much better!
Singing from above a constant stream of beautiful sound, as the Skylarks compete for the territories on the ground, on which they will lay their eggs. To help them succeed in breeding, please keep to the paths around the field edges as this reduces disturbance.
Being Good Friday, I went of a search for Good Friday Grass or Field Woodrush, just a couple of the brown-yellow flower spotted on this its day!
However in my crawling on the short turf a number flowerheads of Early Spider Orchids were visible, mostly short, their brown furry bodies showing beneath the green hoods, very easy to miss at the moment, but in a week or so they will be gloriously abundant.
Also found were the very sharp and spiky leaves of the Stemless Thistle, discovered in the painful way of leaning on them while attempting to admire some patches of deep violet from the Hairy Violets flowers.
In the distance the screech of a Peregrine Falcon, and the yaffle of a Green Woodpecker, along with deep croak of a Raven.
Closer to a Stonechat was chatting – the black head, white collar and orange chest beautifully frames by the bright yellow of the flowers of the Gorse it was perched on.
A few moments watching two Roe Deer, through binoculars the tufts of fur as they moult could easily be seen as could the large dark brown ‘doe’ eyes.
As they walked away a female Blackcap flitted towards the Wild Pear tree where a Robin was already in full voice.
Alongside on patch of Cowslips and Primroses is strange group of yellow flowers, a combination in colour and shape of both species.