Passing the garden there was a Great Tit then it was the activity of Blackbirds followed by Woodpigeon that caught my attention. Dark charcoal coloured Ash buds promised future leaves. A Green Woodpecker was merely heard, its call ring out from near to the Large Copse. Just before I opened the gate into South Field, a Magpie flew up from the ground. A visit to Saxon’s Hay Rake Quarr gave sight of the basal rosette leaves of Early Spider Orchids. Nearby at ground level, were the discarded featherlike pieces of moss, removed by a bird hunting for insect larvae, I assumed.
An island of Gorse, on the south facing half of Saxon, was decorated with yellow flowers. Entering Lighthouse field, I admired the grazing impact of the Herford Cattle. However, they had not touched the leaves of Stinking Iris, possibly due to their “meaty” scent. The cattle had pushed over the capstan winch at the demonstration quarr, they also had done a good effort in trying to camouflage the tarmac road with cow pats!
A trio of Jackdaw were about the Lighthouse complex whilst most were upon Lighthouse Green or perched in Gully trees. Branches snapped as cattle navigated through and browsed upon woody cover. A pair of Greater Black Backed Gulls floated upon the sea at the gully mouth. Further offshore, with its Mohican, drifted a Shag.
This morning the Goat Plot was empty of cattle, but the strands of silver and black hair underneath the fence indicated a Badger had passed through. An inquisitive cow had relocated, from beyond the fence, a sheet of metal which is used to monitor reptiles. Looking seawards I counted a total of a score of Guillemots floating upon the sea in three vague rafts. Others passed in low rapid wing beating flight over the brine. Departing from the Goat Plot I was met by the arrival of one Raven. The large blackbird perched upon the upper measured mile marker from where it called out for its mate. I passed a discarded pale colour washed Garden Snail shell.
NOTE: We have a POWER CUT TOMORROW between 10:00 and 15:30.