Happy New Year to you all.
My New Year patrol started well as it wasn’t raining!
Off to the clifftops to enjoy the blustery south westerly wind which was buffeting the coast. Days like this seem to attract Gannets close in to shore, and no exception with at least 20 of these magnificent seabirds gliding past.
As the groups of Gannets flew by, the variety of ages could be seen from the different wing plumage. The completely brown birds being this year’s youngsters, through the mottled brown and white of the last couple of years and the brilliant white of the adults.
As one of the adults came very close, the dirty yellow head also showing as it flew above a Great Black-backed Gull, both birds of huge wingspans, completely dwarfing the Herring Gull and the Guillemots which were zooming about.
A sudden cackle and 40+ Jackdaws took off from the clifftop, a few stunts performed before they settled back down again on the flimsy branches of the Tamarisk.
A dashing action of a bird caught my eye just over the sea, as it sped up, rose to the sky and plummeted back down, the Peregrine Falcon grabbed at a Feral Pigeon, its talons looked to touch but not hold on as the prey jinked.
The Peregrine then soared off towards the lighthouse empty footed – no breakfast to be had from that flock.
On the downs a female Roe Deer, stood, her dull brown and grey fur blending in well with the surroundings, but as she turned and trotted away the large white powder puff heart shape on her backside flashed so obviously.
Whilst watching this I was startled by another female Roe Deer which erupted from the patch of scrub 3 yards ahead of me, I hadn’t seen it as it blended so well into the dead Bramble!
A few smatterings of golden yellow Gorse, and a Skylark fluttering just above the meadow added to the list for the first day of the year.