Speedwell flowers we on the inland edge of the centre, whilst dew sat amongst the seaward carpet of Common Daisies. Several horizontal spiders sheet webs (for capturing crawling insects) were picked out thanks to dew drops. Whilst mackerel cloud was above, seen below a thin band of blue sky was a thick undulating belt of cloud on the seaward horizon.
Whilst a Magpie “coughed”, and Greenfinch did its “tzee” call. Many small piles or aerated soils indicated the work of burrowing insects. In addition, there were a cluster of six cow pat sized splays or aerated soil near the demo quarr, which I took to indicate Yellow Meadow Ant activity. Perhaps, being only a meter apart from each other, these were trial ant hills. Above, amongst the ten “Pat & John” bench Early Spider Orchids was a flowering stem near three inches tall. Someone a male Pheasant called, then a Sheep’s bleat carried from further away. Today the sound of quarrying was soothing as was the chug of red hulled pot fishing SU461 as it headed west. More Chalk Milkwort was in flower upon the downland slopes. Below in the gully a Yellow Hammer sang out, but it was the male Stonechat that was seen.
Flying west above the coast path, I believe it was a Cormorant. Below there was the light splashing and bubbling / popping of gentle waves. Marble size Earth Balls (Stomach fungi) were scatter amongst the short coastal grassland. Just over the cliff top wall, I feared the pyramidal web between Blackthorn spines was that of Brown Tailed Moth caterpillars. However, it was pleasant to see even the saline wind stunt cliff edge Blackthorn in blossom. Upon the wave cut platform some five Herring Gull perched at the edge. Seabird cave occupancy led to fifteen Guillemots forced to perch on the sloping boulder. The largest of the seabird rafts below consisted of thirty birds. A group of five Razorbills were on the water close to the cliffs. I was to get good close-up views of at least two Razorbill pairs that were above the cliff cave. I believe I witnessed one pair mating. On the coast path there was the fishy smell from the seabird colony and the sweet scent of Gorse flowers. A Greater Black Backed Gull was also above the cave. Silently, a Raven flew west alongside the cliff face. Fulmars were active, one I noticed on a ledge protected by an overhang of limestone beneath the Observation Point. The white flowers in clusters on the cliff face below that could only have been those of Sea Campion.