Unlike yesterday, this morning’s inspection of the electric fence was simpler. Yesterday the Hereford Calves had been sniffing the posts and putting their heads between the line wires, which necessitated repairs. Upon the ridge, Hoary Plantain showed its fuzz of tiny petal upon brown flower heads. A pair of Linnets passed by as a Chiff Chaff called out. Offshore a Shag flew west just above the brine. As I followed the fence line, I went through the undulations formed by stone and clay piles. I hope to see a basking upon discarded stone, instead Blackthorn and Cranesbill poked through. Thistles had been revealed by cattle grazing, leaving the plants which would benefit seed eating birds. Either a Worm or Caterpillar dangled from the beak of a Great Tit that paused upon an Ivy coated drystone wall capper. Meanwhile, a Jackdaw took a drink from a cattle trough. Untrodden Wild Clary beside a stone wall stile, indicated low level use of that path. I passed Yellow Wort (not flowering), Crosswort and Stinging Nettle before seeing and hearing the male Stonechat upon Lighthouse Green. It left Blackthorn cover to briefly explore short trampled and Rabbit grazed turf, only to perch a call vigorously only one metre from me. It looked discoloured and suggested it was a tired parent.
Inland from the gully mouth a Roe Deer Buck sat near a Gorse clump amongst longer grass. At the Southeast corner of the Lighthouse were a few Gladioli, whist Thrift dominated below. Off Anvil Point, a Gannet flew at spiralling height above the sea. After passing a clump of Charlock I finally discovered a female (rusty) Adder basking in a sheltered ravine amongst the grassland. Her body flattened to maximise warming. I chose to turn around rather than disturb her. Yellow flower Sow Thistles began to set it seed to the wind. Dock-like Common Sorrel dangled its seed pods. The second treat was finding some three a few stems of Bee Orchid’s, just starting to show flower, amongst a patch of eroded bare ground. Gorse bushes were laden with a bounty of seed pods waiting to explode and set seed. Dwarf Mallow flowered around the mile markers concrete base.