The grey cloud covered the sky as I began my walk, a single shaft of sunlight piercing through to shine upon the Gorse covered bank, a brilliant yellow, with a pungent coconut smell.
From the Blackthorn hedge, where the blossom was looking gorgeous, came two different calls, the first the characteristic song of the Chiffchaff, a regular ‘chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff-chiff’ ringing out, but alongside it the wistful ‘wheuet’ could be heard, this the other call of the Chiffchaff, and after searching amongst the flowers the dull brown bird with a pale eye stripe was discovered and watched as it called.
Scattered like a sprinkling of confetti across the meadows Cowslips, the lemon coloured flowers popping up, only the start of the display, but given a few warmer and sunnier days the sprinkling will turn to a carpet (hopefully).
Above me a Skylark was singing with gusto, whilst another was fluttering just above the wall.
On the downs a few Hairy Violets, adding a purple to the green and brown colourscape, while the Common Whitlow Grass provides tiny spots of white.
Lots of leaves starting to emerge, including those of the Old Man’s Beard and Bramble, as they both clamber and climb across the walls and bushes.
The Hawthorn trees are beginning to turn a greenish colour as its leaves also open, while underneath the large leaves of Lords and Ladies, and the tall ones of Stinking Iris are showing well.
On one of our sheltered banks (the pile of soil and stone left over from the quarrying that took place years ago), a lovely display of Primroses to be enjoyed.
As I headed back, looking down at the ground to avoid some of the worst of the mud, slowly walking along a stone, was a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle, moving like a clockwork toy, this black beetle tingled with blue colour.
In the Sycamore above a Bullfinch was perched, brilliant pink, grey, black and white, emitting its squeaky call.