The grey overcast skies reflecting onto the sea to give the turbulent water a grey wash with many white crests as the waves rumbled through. A few young Great Black-backed Gulls flew by, their mottled brown plumage and large size easily spotted, as was the black and white adult standing on an outcrop on the cliff edge.
From above came the tinkling sound of Goldfinches, which as I watched, they landed in amongst some Teasels, Woolly Thistles and Burdock to have a breakfast of seeds. As they teased the seeds from the heads there was a flickering of gold from their wings, while patches of red, white and black feathers added to the scene.
Crawling across the turf the hairy form of a Fox Moth caterpillar, this one was finger sized, black and chestnut in colour. Also on the ground, taking advantage of the damp weather numerous Snails, including Garden Snail, Glass Snail, Trapdoor Snail, Wall Snail and the Brown-lipped Snail.
A movement low in the Wild Clematis brought a Wren to my attention, the pale line above its eye showing up well. Meanwhile higher in the scrub, amongst the ropes, a Blackcap. The pale greyish body the first thing to catch my eye, only then followed by the black cap. On inspection with binoculars a couple of brown capped birds also emerged.
On the downland dashing from the Brambles was a Yellowhammer, a flash of brilliant yellow watched as it landed in the nearby berry laden Hawthorn.
With the rain many of the flowers are looking bedraggled, but Rough Hawkbit, Knapweed and Field Scabious are still showing in places, while some Small Scabious, Eyebright and Centuary is also still just blooming.
The deep croak of a Raven sounded as this large all black crow flew overhead, the ends of the wings spread out, looking like shaggy fingers.
Sheltering by the wall was a male Dark Bush-cricket, two prongs protruding from the end of its abdomen.