The yaffle of a Green Woodpecker came from the direction of the Large Copse, this large green and yellow bird flying above the Ivy floor, around the Privet hedge landing in amongst the variety of grasses of the meadow, where it began to probe the ground.
A flurry of movement from the midst of the Blackthorn scrub, drew my attention towards a couple of Blackbirds, both looking splendid in their bright yellow beaks.
Perched at the top of a Hawthorn tree was a Song Thrush, occasionally uttering a short burst of its song, whilst below in amongst the Brambles a Wren called loudly.
As the sun finally rose above the layer of cloud which stretched above the horizon, the Country Park was bathed in a golden glow, the dry-stone wall was lit up and perched evenly spaced on it were 6 Jackdaws, almost as if they had been waiting to be highlighted by the sun!
On the cliffs the Guillemots were packed once more into the ledges, with a few more on the water. As I scanned with my binoculars it appeared that at least ¾ were now in their ‘summer’ breeding plumage rather than the ‘winter’ non-breeding plumage.
Perched on the rock face was a Peregrine Falcon, the mottled chest facing outwards, then a sudden movement and it took flight and headed off along the cliffs to the west.
Squeaks and calls from the Rock Pipits as they flitted and flapped around Tilly Whim, while from the Tamarisk, Stonechats were calling to another couple which were on the nearby Elder and Gorse.
A patch of white flower turned out to be Yarrow, with a Wild Carrot umbel spotted a little high er up in the grass glade.
Rambling over and amongst the Old Man’s Beard was Wild Madder, the large black berries in great contrast to the bright red of the Black Bryony which was also clambering up the ropes of the Wild Clematis.