A still, dry morning, with a rippled, frozen sea of grey cloud hanging overhead and a lovely smell of autumn in the air.
A Jay explodes out of the Holm Oaks alongside the Castle – the vibrant blue feathers of his wings jumping out on a grey morning. Nearby, a tiny Goldcrest picks its way through the canopy, with a flash of bright gold from it’s ‘mohican’.
On Caravan Terrace, a Bullfinch weaves among the Blackthorn, while among the grass, the white flowers of Yarrow and yellow Bristly Ox-tongue are still in bloom.
Down on the cliffs, the ledges are crowded with Guillemots, in their speckled, contrasting winter plumage, with more paddling on the still water below the cliffs, with a pair of Razorbills passing by as I watched. A few Shags are gathered on a low, rocky platform, with a Gannet gliding past, way out to sea.
A sleek, grey Peregrine Falcon zooms past, as a Buzzard spirals lazily upward above Goat Plot.
A few flocks of Woodpigeons circle as I make my way around the Park, with Linnets and a single Brambling also seen passing overhead this morning, with a Pied Wagtail strutting around the grass outside the Learning Centre. Above the Castle, a flock of young Swallows (lacking the long tail streamers of the adults) circle, as they feed up, ready for their long journey to Africa.
In the hedgerows, Long-tailed Tits, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps are foraging, among a tangle of Old Man’s Beard, with a few bright orange strings of Bryony berries adorning Hawthorn and Blackthorn, while the leaves of Wild Cherry are turning to a vibrant red.
A Great Spotted Woodpecker darts across the Aviary Glade, with a Green Woodpecker seen later at the top of Long Meadow.