I had a shock during last night’s dusk walk home. Out of the darkness came a loud piercing singular “dog toy” like squeak. I soon realised it was the “whistle” of a Sika Deer. I the silhouettes of these mammal moving away from me.
Sunlight illuminated a cloud edge with a lightening bright margin of light. Twelve Feral Doves manoeuvred about the coast path. It was a quiet morning such that a Magpie on Centenary was of interest. Ahead of me a Robin explored the muddy footpath surface. I passed under a Blackthorn which was cloaked in Branching Lichen and several Sloes. In the distance a Kestrel hovered about the inland downland summit. Amongst the upper gully I followed a cattle track that was halfway up a quarr hollow, the hollow resembling a small volcano caldera.
In the Sycamore, beside horseshoe bridge a Kestrel was perched in the top of its crown. I was surprised to see a Jay “visit” the predator a choose the rest near it for a moment. In the branches were Jackdaws and Woodpigeon. Near the gully rock face, a Wren trill after I set up more Jackdaws. A Stonechat was beneath the overhead wires. The wires and the Measure Mile Markers both were the winds vocal cords. At the gully mouth spouts of sea spray were ejected through the two blow holes. One silent Raven did a U-turn flight about the gully. Later it would perch a call from the lower mile marker.
Four Brent Geese were reported by Katie to be flying east over the sea.