First Cuckoo of Spring!

We had a lovely day in Cornwall on Sunday and had a dramatic walk along the cliff path from the Lizard Point to the beautiful Kynance Cove. The sea was wild and incredibly blue and the cliffs were sprinkled with wildflowers including the pretty blue Squills. We heard our first Cuckoo calling in the scrubland behind the point.

Poneys on Padley Common

These pretty Poneys were having fun on the cricket pitch at Chagford this week, we did manage to get them off there and back onto the common where thay are free to roam. The beautiful speckledy male has sired many foals and this one looks as if it is his as well as it has a speckeldy patch on its rear!

Wild Cherry

The Wild Cherry trees are now in bloom, the Bullfinches love these and we are lucky to see so many of these beautiful birds here in Devon. I took this photo on my usual walk along the Hunters Path below Castle Drogo this morning. Each year I watch out for this tree to come into bloom as it is so pretty and has a great backdrop with the Teign gorge behind, I just hope it is not removed with the yearly slash and burn "management" that takes place in this area.

Nesting Nuthatch

I was thrilled to see the Nuthatches are back in their usual nest hole in a tree beside the river Teign near Chagford. I have seen them every spring for the past four years and it is a superb spot to stand and watch them. This morning they were gathering mud to close the nesting hole a little, here is a picture of one placing the mud around the hole.