Upon the final day of 2021 I arrived to hear the chatter of Robins and the sound of the wind in the trees. There was the occasional hum from the Bollard too. I passed the suspected Mole Hill near the learning centre and latter saw, near the quarr two Bank Vole holes. The two holes had beside them a linear spread of spoil. We are wondering if the Mole(s) might have been introduced by someone have undertaken live capture elsewhere. A quartet of Magpies gave rattling chatter over the downland.
About Horseshoe Bridge there was the sound of unseen Great Tits and Blue Tits. Water droplets were suspended from Bramble tendrils. The rumble of an aircraft indicated human activity. Upon the gully slopes grass covered anthills were a welcome type of “acne”.
Two Jackdaws arrived at the Lighthouse whilst nearby came the clatter of those descending to the cliff face. First one, then a pair then a fourth Greater Black Backed Gull drifted west following the coast path. I could just make out St. Alban’s Head in the distance.
First came a triangular formation of what I suspected were seven Shearwaters. They were followed by Gannets, generally in ones and twos, that also flew west. Some twenty-one Gannets were counted flowing low over the sea, many quite close to the cliffs showing black wing tips.
With a low tide and swell, the waves crashed into the cliff face sending explosions of spray upon onto the wave cut platform. A Cormorant dove off the Gully mouth. Approximately sixty Guillemots were huddled in their cliff cave. Eventually I saw a linear raft of a score upon the sea. Another three Shearwater flew past. It was unusual to find a Shag perched above the Guillemot cave, but it gave a clear view of its “Mohican”. Another surprise being the dispersal of some twenty Feral Pigeons from cliff top to castle. A breeze sent shock water droplets down from Holm Oak leaves. Mexican Daises held flowers outside the castle whilst Common Daisies were by the centre. Daffodil leaves were visible, and I pondered how the Three-Cornered Leak blades had lasted so well. Goodbye to 2021