A glorious sunny and frosty morning out on the Park, a white covering across much of the land, twinkling in the orange glow.
Down to the cliffs to see whether the Guillemots were in again – I could hear them from Tilly Whim, as I looked along, well over a hundred were closely squashed onto the ledge, with more on the water below.
In amongst these birds were some darker birds, 10 Razorbills bobbing about, including one still in winter plumage, the thicker beak looking even wider alongside the white face!
On the cliff above the Guillemots, perched on three outcrops were 2 Herring Gulls and above gazing down on them all a Peregrine Falcon.
On the downs the Hereford cattle were grazing, their ginger and white coats backlit at time by the sunlight, making for a wonderful sight.
A detour along the coast path – the mud nicely frozen as I walked along doing a quick inspection.
Overhead a Kestrel was hovering, the chestnut male quivering as it searched below for some breakfast. It is always amazing to watch the way they keep their heads so still while the rest of the body is moving in mid-air. As I watched a second Kestrel swooped by, this time a much browner female.
From the yellow flowering Gorse came the chattering calls of Blue Tits, a small flock was flitting through the vicious spikes, while at the bottom a Wren blasted forth its alarm call.
Back towards the woods near the Castle and a Jay gently floated across ahead of me, the white rump so obvious as it flew, a few moments later the jaunty movement of a Bullfinch caught my attention, another white rump flashing as it travelled.
A female Pheasant erupted from the undergrowth, such a well camouflaged bird scuttling through the dead leaves of the Holm Oak.