Yesterday, after midday I passed a Peacock butterfly in flight beside the Small Copse. This morning a Jay flew passing low over a “sleeping policeman”. I ventured out into sunshine with any icy breeze, I was glad for my gloves!
Near the Measure Mile Marker Posts a Magpie ascended into the air. The lower marker whistled as the breezed passed through it. Its shadow made it resemble a giant sundial. Jackdaws emerged from around the Goat Plot and headed west. A chattering Goldfinch charm passed by as I watched a lightly rippled sea. I was lucky to count five Guillemots in the sea cave, and another in flight, as they soon had all left the cliff face. Perched up above facing inland was a resting Peregrine Falcon. Perched below preening close to the brine was a Cormorant. Feral Doves sat upon the bedrock coast path steps whilst the sound of a Rock Pipit was broadcast. I was surprised to find, near the gully overhead wires, a Kestrel perched below upon Ivy wearing Hawthorn. The Kestrel advance towards the gully rock exposure and perch on a boulder until I advanced too close. The hunter went off on a journey back towards the sea. Higher up above the rock face a male Stonechat watched. Briefly a Chaffinch pause upon the wires whilst two pairs of Carrion Crows independently huddled together each pair beside their own telegraph poles. After a Crow call there followed a Cock Pheasant response from further up the gully. It weas the machine gun trill of a Wren that rattled out from cover. Holly, Yew, Black Berry, Ivy, and Gorse represented the remaining cover of leaf / needles in the gully.
Branches moved in the breeze at the Small Copse. Therein some seed masts were retained up a Sycamore. In sheltered shaded places dew was found. In all I had 3 Jay encounters this morning. Today brave bird ringing duo reported a quiet morning but reported Goldcrest, Wren, Song Thrush, and Linnet amongst their captures.