After a chilly night, an absolutely beautiful morning, with a few scuffs of high cloud in an otherwise immaculate deep blue sky.
Swallows swirl overhead, gathering into larger and larger flocks as they feed up in preparation for the long journey ahead of them. A few House Martins mixed in with the flock, along with young Swallows, born this year, lacking the long tail streamers of the adults. A few Meadow Pipits also passing overhead – an early sign that the summer is drawing to a close.
Along the Diagonal Path, Stonechats tick from among the Gorse – it’s yellow flowers blazing in the morning sunshine. Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Long-tailed Tits, Dunnocks, Robins and Wrens feed among the scrub, as a Kestrel quarters the Lighthouse Field – perfectly poised on the breeze.
A tinkling charm of Goldfinches pick seeds from Teasel and Woolly Thistle at the edge of the meadows, as a Jay explodes out of the Large Copse with a hoarse shriek.
A glossy black Bloody-nose Beetle plods along the path in front of me, while just off the path, the ‘latrines’ of Badgers are full of purple poo, where they have been gorging on Blackberries.
A quick stroll along the cliffs, where the volunteers are setting up this morning’s parkrun, as a Peregrine slides silently by as she scans for prey. A few Rock Pipits dart along the clifftop, with a few flowers of Sea Aster, Rock Samphire and Golden Samphire still in bloom.
Despite the morning chill, in the woods, a sheltered patch of Buddleia is already attracting Large and Small White and Red Admiral butterflies, with Speckled Woods also on the wing.
Further down, a Raven croaks from the top of a Monterey Cypress, while the canopy is starting to show hints of yellow, while down below, the first seedpods of Stinking Iris are starting to split to reveal their bright orange seeds.