With the hedges covered in white Blackthorn blossom as well as some more brownish in colour as it goes over, the green leaves of the Hawthorn show brightly. Singing loudly from a branch a Wren, tiny but noisy, while from within the scrub Dunnock and Chaffinch were in full voice.
However at full throttle the song of Skylarks filling the air, as I stood on the path, a carpet of Cowslips spread around me, 3 Skylarks were around me – just marvellous.
As I listened I was surprised by a male Roe Deer bounding past me, his fur looking very shabby as the winter coat starts to moult in thick tufts, his antlers still covered in gorgeous velvet.
A second male and a female Roe Deer were just nearby, while in a dip in the ground a large pile of poo indicated a Badger had recently visited this latrine.
On the downs two Meadow Pipits took flight, rising up and then dropping down again further down the field.
At my feet the special furry brown flower heads of Early Spider Orchid could be seen, a clump of 15, plus many more now scattered across the short turf – look where you are walking!
From the gully, Chiffchaffs were calling loudly from the Wayfaring Tree and the Yew Tree, but I was admiring a Greenfinch as it called from the top twig of an Ash.
My ears were drawn to the screeching call of a Peregrine. As I spotted it, the noise continued and a Raven croaked, these two birds having a ‘bit of a do’ as they swept around each other.
Along the cliffs the sound of a chuckling Fulmar as three more of these amazing birds circled around the rock face. The water below a mass of white crest and grey rollers, bobbing upon which were a few Guillemots and Razorbills. up on the ledges hundreds more Guillemots were squashed together, the constant growling sounds wafting up to where I was standing on the footpath above.
Further sightings included the first (that I know of) Willow Warbler of the season, a couple of Swallows, a Tree Pipits and 2 passing Scoter.