An incredible sunrise this morning, with thick long streaks of red crossing the sky. Later, as I walked around the clifftop, one cloud was lit-up by the colours of the rainbow.
A Sparrowhawk dashed along the Blackthorn hedgerow, a flap and a glide as it rose. Later a Peregrine Falcon was heard noisily proclaiming, I was lucky enough to watch it as it landed and perched on the cliff edge.
Splashes of pale purple from the Sea Aster, add some welcome colour, as do the Golden Samphire flowers.
Across the downland the golden flowers of Carline Thistle are in full bloom, although on first glance you could be forgiven for thinking they were dead!
A patch of 50 or so Autumn Ladies Tresses counted, the white flowers spiralling delicately up the greyish green stem. My count was disturbed by the movement of a Wheatear, bobbing as it stood on a rock. The black mask and sandy chest contrasting with the grey back, but it is the white rump that really makes it standout.
Stonechats galore today, the sound, like two stones rubbing together coming from various Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Bramble and Elder patches. The colours of these birds varying (from browns to oranges) as the youngsters do not have the striking colours of the adults.
A Common Whitethroat appearing then disappearing amongst the tangled swathe of Wild Clematis, the flowers of which are a delicate cream.
As I enjoyed these a Pipit flitted out, the exact species I am still uncertain of, but it was beautifully marked with a pale eyebrow and well-marked chest.
Zooming overhead small flocks of Swallows. But on looking down again, just ahead of me, looking a bit like a long dead leaf was a female Adder. The dark brown zigzag showing along the length of this brown snake before she slithered away into the long grass.
Last night a few Glowworms still to be seen (4 noted), now very near the end of the season for this magic mini lightshow produced by this beetle.