After the heavy shower, the sound of large drops of water falling from leaf to leaf could be heard, particularly noticeable in the sheltered areas. Here a number of small birds were emerging including the Wren, whose tail was erect as it filled the air with its song, a trill at signalling it had finished.
The thin call of a Dunnock added to the mornings chorus as did the song of a Blackbird and the hu-et of a Chiffchaff. This bird was perched on a small branch of a small Holm Oak, the tree looking most strange as it was enshrined in long ropes of bright juicy red berries of Black Bryony.
Once again down on the cliff ledge the Guillemots were perched, about one hundred standing erect, most of these ones still have there ‘winter’ plumage with white faces and necks, but they will soon be moving to the ‘breeding’ plumage of dark brown heads.
Flying above the water was a Shag, easily identifiable by its all black colour and long neck, while on the cliffs a Great Black-backed Gull stood gazing off out to sea.
I had another look for the Snow Bunting (which was seen over the weekend) but again I was unsuccessful, however I was provided with a wonderful view of a Stonechat as it chatted loudly from the top of a Gorse bush. The dark head, and orange chest, not as pristine as earlier in the year, but still obvious.
Above one of the new information panels, swarmed some flies, hundreds of these 5mm long creatures counted, my fly identification is not good enough for a species unfortunately!
Some of the tall remnants of the Golden Samphire, are being used by the small conical shaped snail Cochlicella acuta, these molluscs seemingly liking the fleshy green leaves.
Strutting along the rock edge was a Rock Pipit, a thin call as it took flight.