What a glorious morning, the south easterly breeze surprisingly chilly as I walked the clifftop path. A big swell on the sea, white crests tumbling, scanning the water small groups of Guillemots could be seen rising to the wave tops, before disappearing for a while.
With all the water movement only 9 Razorbills counted on the water, some of these in closed pairs, others drifting apart.
A Fulmar was soaring magnificently in big loops, in and out of the cliffs it moved, the slightly mottled grey wings contrasting starkly with the white head. Always a joy to watch these albatross relatives on a windy day.
The dark form of a Shag sped into view as it careered towards the rocks, a second followed, this one with its crest showing, as it to braked to land on the cliffs.
The warm sun had encouraged an Adder to emerge, the dark brown body flattened against the brown mud, just above it, twigs and grass were moving in the wind.
Just appearing are the earliest of spring flowers, including a patch of Spring Crocus, blooms of Daffodils, and a few clumps of Snowdrops. In the grass a the bright waxy yellow petals of Lesser Celandine just opening to bask in the sunshine.
On the downs, the Common Whitlow Grass has begun flowering, but most of the small white flowers were still closed up.
The sudden sound of ripping air made me look above me head where a Peregrine Falcon was turning sharply, before heading off at speed towards a Feral Pigeon, the outcome of this chase I was unable to see as they both disappeared along the gully where I was unable to watch!
Movement in the distance saw two Roe Deer trotting across the path, then bounding over the dry-stone wall, as they did this, their now large powder puff rumps flashed white.
Last night under the starry skies two Tawny Owls could be heard – the ‘t-wit’ and the ‘twoo’ coming from different patches of woodland.