First time for a few days that I have had the chance to go down to the cliffs in the morning, where I found a hub of activity.
On the water the black and white Razorbills were bobbing, when coming close they were knocking their bills together, the sound of this could be heard in the windless morning.
I counted 20 of these Razorbills in amongst the Guillemots. These paler birds a more chocolate brown than black, a long thin beak another obvious difference. At least 6 of the 50 were still in the ‘winter’ plumage, with almost completely white heads, the others in ‘summer breeding’ plumage so a lovely deep brown colour.
Soaring magnificently were 3 Fulmars, swinging close to the cliffs then out again in constant circles. Wonderful just to stand and admire.
Two Shags arrived onto the cliffs with a wobbly flight pattern, displacing the Feral Pigeons in a flutter of activity.
No sign of a Peregrine Falcon perched on the cliffs, but as I approached Tilly Whim, there on the ground was a Peregrine, which was busy plucking the feathers off the unfortunate prey. Feathers wafting up on the updraft, the bright orange-yellow talons holding the bird delicately, the beak tearing away.
Around the corner, a Rock Pipit was fluttering, a few trills making this so easy to identify.
The cattle have, for the moment, been removed from the Lighthouse Field, having grazed the grassland and eating much of the thick grass, this will open up the ground and provide better habitat for the limestone flowers and invertebrates.
Flowering in patches now, is the bright yellow Gorse, and flitting between the blooms a flock of Goldfinches, followed by a Bullfinch, whose white rump caught the eye.