Due to power cut this diary was loaded 24 Feb.
So we are still without power, so unable to open the Castle or Café – sorry.
The weather was much more peaceful this morning than the last few days with gusts only at 33mph! As I walked through the woods the sound of a Great Spotted Woodpecker was echoing around, it was very difficult to trave its whereabouts amongst the swaying twigs, but found eventually near the top of a London Plane, before flashing its red trousers and black and white feathers as it moved into the nearby Horse Chestnut.
The sound of Long-tailed Tits averted me attention to the Lime tree where they were hanging acrobatically in the twigs, swinging and balancing as they searched for food.
A Green Woodpecker could be heard yaffling in the distance, its laugh easily recognisable.
The Spring Crocus is putting on a bit of a show, although looking a little damp and windblown this small flower is providing a splash of lilac, while the occasional bunch of bright white Snowdrops can be spotted as can the odd flower of the Winter Heliotrope.
To the cliffs – it was windier down there – to find the Auks had returned after a few days away (they would have spend the storm bobbing on the ocean). !9 Razorbills counted, dark black backs, bobbing amongst the more brown backs of the 49 Guillemots, while the ledge was full with hundred plus more.
A Bullfinch and a Greenfinch were both heard near the Lighthouse while a Chaffinch was by the Bridge. On the ground a Lesser Bloody-nose Beetle was slowly trundling uphill.