This morning struck me as being ideal Easter weather. As my patrol progressed, I became increasing aware, That I was overdressed. In shaded places I found pockets of light ground frost. When I returned, I found areas of a light due of perhaps thawed frost?
Heading out a Dunnock sang as I passed by then I found another at the bonfire site- whit may be burnt today……. Upon the summit of the lowest Mile Marker a Raven pair were beak wiping or preening each other such that it looked like, and perhaps was, a kind of kissing. A trio of Wood Pigeons flew down into the gully and perched upon the overhead wires for some time. Every day the Blackthorn Blossom cover has increased, although full bloom has some time to go.
I saw a black /grey and white bird with a finch like beak which I have yet to have identified. A lump of dry cow pat was suspended amongst a Blackthorn regrowth. At the road bridge I was startled by a Wood Pigeon that I had disturb. The bird took off in noisy flight as it departed from Ivy cover. Whilst Ash flowers were opening there were larger florets to be seen on the eastern edge of small copse. Lower down a Wren fired out its machine gun call. A solo Magpie was upon the coastal downland. A Stonechat duo, perched meters, apart upon branches that protruded above the dense scrub cover. A Chaffinch perched amongst Sycamore buds near the gully Yew. Another Stonechat male was seen on Lighthouse Green. In the Tamarisk, near the South West corner of the Lighthouse, complex perched Linnets and one Yellowhammer! Of course, Jackdaws flitted about the clifftops. A single Skylark was clearing seen amongst an area of very short turf. Nearby a patch of Early Spider Orchids appeared not to have grown despite recent rainfall. Meanwhile Bluebells popped their heads protective ground level Blackthorn and Bramble cover.
As I ascended the coastal ridge, I spotted a 1cm long Ground Beetle with one wrinkled wing case. At ear level Bumble Beer passed with is wings “buzzing”. Later, at a light / shade margin, a cluster of Gnats flew bobbing upon and down at head height. A Song Thrush sang out from the upper gully. Near the Small Copse I clocked a Yellow Hammer singing!