Yesterday, we moved the Hereford Cattle through the Warren, full of Dyer’s Greenweed (with a few yellow flowers), into quarry Meadow. Upon the reclaimed landfill we flushed a trio of Snipe before getting soaked!
Today, my journey needed my seeing the cattle at least through binoculars. First, into the wind I headed to the coast path passing the measured mile markers. Some seventy Guillemot sheltered in their cliff cave whilst half a dozen Herring Gulls headed west. Following them offshore was a solo Gannet. The Lighthouse lamp blinked whilst the Tamarisk was flexing in the wind. There was much white froth at the gully mouth, occasionally sea spray and regular saline waterfalls.
I felted slightly hugged upon entering the shelter of the gully ravine. Passing dry Teasel at low level flight could only have been a Wren. The wind was heard passing in the dry downland Tor Grass. Above the rock outcrop a hidden Robin tutted. Below a few crisp leaves clinging to a Sycamore rustled in the wind. I believed it was a Peregrine Falcon that flew, with bent wing tips, over Horseshoe Bridge for the coast. Wind assisted I ascended the downland passing another Wren flying at ankle height. Blackthorn spiny branches squeaked as the scraped against each other in the wind. From Holcombe, after setting up three Magpie, I saw the cattle happily grazing in the distance. To the east a Green Woodpecker called.
Today I heard the wind passing through the powerline in Arable field. Next door fourteen Herring Gull pecked at Haysom Meadow. I was disappointed not to see the Starlings here today. Carrion Crows were more active on the Townsend side of the valley. On my way back I noticed the mustard colour indicating a Wild Parsnip. In the castle I thought of the preparations to come for tonight’s FoD Xmas meeting.