Bluebells blossomed beside the office window and despite a severe pruning, Buddleia was full of fresh leaves. Entering the “Wildlife Area” I was welcomed by both Blackthorn & Hawthorn Blossom. Treading with care, I avoided the Cowslip and arrived pondside to count nine newts in the pond. They were all Smooth Newts, although the females, having crests both top and bottom, were briefly confused with the Great Crested Newt. When my shadow disturbed the amphibians, they disappeared into silt cover. Lady’s Smock flowered from three stems at the pond margin, whilst out of the water protruded a Bog Bean flower.
My next treat was a cluster of Slowworms under the thin concrete slab. Black stripes upon their backs indicated at least three females. There were adult, immature, and juvenile individuals, one of the latter being separate from the group. Meanwhile, climbing amongst other growth were the fresh creepers and leaves of the nightshade known as Bittersweet.
A few miniscule Crosswort flowers were note bedside Red Fescue grass upon a hedge foot Ant Hill. Another hill hosted Biting Bittercress armed with seed pods waiting to explode. Yes, although Pheasant cockcrows, Chiff Chaff and Song Thrush, I avoided taking such things for granted!
Tall Early Purple Orchid flower stems were easily seen from Lighthouse Rd amongst the downland. Both Apple and Pear blossom were roadside.
If it were not for its head and antlers, the sitting Roe Deer’s body would have bended in most excellently beside the ant hills. Two Jackdaws landed upon the mammals back where it welcomed their hunt for insects. However, although I approached from a distance, the Roe Deer scampered of into the steep sided gully ravine (without Jackdaw passengers!). Offshore from the gully mouth some sixteen black/ brown and white seabirds were upon the sea. I suspected these were Razorbills! Just before reading the weather, I observed a Kestrel hovering over South Field.