A glorious bank holiday Monday! Not a rain cloud in sight (for now). Heading out through south field and dodging puddles I head to the hay rake quar in Saxon to see for myself the first Early Spider Orchids. I spot one straight away, once you have your eye in the tiny spider like orchid can be seen all around. There stems still quite short and close to the ground I’m careful not to step on them as I hunt for more, some are in flower while most are still closed ready to open soon.
Blackthorn in flower is just starting to go over being replaces by tiny leaves. Above two Skylarks bob across the sky heading south across the field, there continuous song as they move filling the air.
In oxeye a Cowslips pop up amongst the grass across the whole field, small yellow lantern like flowers gently swaying in the light breeze. Bright white Daises are scattered amongst them.
Walking along the top of the gully the sound of bird song floats up on the breeze, notably Robin, Great Tit and Chiffchaff. Five Goldfinch float across the top of the scrub gold strips catching the sunlight, diving down in the scrub below and disappearing. At the sleeper bridge a Chiffchaff flit about the branches of a Hawthorn.
At the top of field 10 in the shorter turf more Early Spider Orchids can be seen. Heading down to the light house, where in front a carpet of Scurvygrass is flowerings, bunches of tiny white flower adorn the tops of flowering stems.
The cliffs are a hub or activity in the morning sunshine. The Guillemot ledge is full to bursting with birds with more still pouring in. Further along two Razor Bills huddle together close to the top of the cliffs. Fulmars swoop gracefully in and out of the cliff, while on the water a group of approximately 10 young Herring Gulls float in a raft on the water.