A female Roe Deer browsed on the new, bright green Hawthorn leaves, the white May blossom smothering this tree. On a fence post a Green Woodpecker perched, a wonderful opportunity to study this odd shaped upright bird, a streak of red coming from the base of its long thick beak.
The scratchy song of a Common Whitethroat made me turn to watch as it burst forth its song, the white feathers on is throat puffing in and out as it did so. As a shaft of sunlight came through the grey clouds, the chestnut band on its wing flashed beautifully. The sound also of a couple of Lesser Whitethroats from nearby.
A couple of Swallows swooped overhead, long streamer tails making them quite unique in shape, while the twittering of Linnets could be heard from the midst of the yellow flowered covered Gorse bushes.
Flitting between the Blackthorn a variety of small birds including Blue Tits, Great Tits, Dunnocks, Chaffinches and Greenfinches.
Today the bird ringers had a Spotted Flycatcher – the first report of the year and perhaps more excitingly flying overhead a Honey Buzzard – they were alerted by the harassing activity of some Carrion Crows.
Down on the cliffs a Raven was chasing a Great Black-backed Gull – these two of our largest resident birds, the deep ‘croak’ being answered by the rough ‘caw’ as they flew.
My eye was attracted by the sight of a gleaming white bird flying east, the wafting wing action something slightly out of the ordinary – turning out to be a Little Egret, its long black legs tucked up under its belly. In contrast two Gannets soared low across the flat calm sea, their wings stiff and straight as they rose, circled and one dived in amongst a large flock of Herring Gulls, Shags and Guillemots, just offshore – must have been some sort of food in the area.
A Painted Lady fluttered along the coast, just above the pink of the Thrift and the white of the Sea Campion.