As wintertime, it was okay that it was wet and grey. I checked on the Hereford Cattle, in South Field, where I was delighted to see they had made a dent in consume the hay bales. Six cattle gathered around one of the largest remaining bales. Upon the legs and flanks of a calf a Magpie kept perching, presumably removing and consuming insects from the calf. A mother called one calf out of the Small Copse, and all seemed well. We hope to move the cattle this week. In addition, at least a dozen should be going off site. In the distance a quartet of Gannets appeared to circuit of Anvil Point. Ascending from the sea cliffs, were dozen Feral Dove, which collectively ascended in a spiral before heading east. It looked as if a fresh Woolly Thistle flower had yet to open, upon the downland. Two Red Clover bloomed before Lighthouse Road cutting. The cutting had Gorse flower and three Yarrow flowers on its sides. Raindrops were suspended from still branches and thorn tips. Upon the electricity overhead lines perched a duo of silent Carrion Crow.
At Horseshoe Bridge a male Blackbird departed from bare Ash branches. On the other side of the road a female fled from a Sycamore whilst a Blue Tit continued to explore Old Man’s Beard which netted some of the tree’s branches. Elsewhere, like bunches of unwanted grapes, shrivelled Black Bryony berries hung from creepers. Dark brown “melts” had begun on Field Mushrooms upon Lighthouse Green. Approaching the telegraph pole, I flushed a hen Pheasant as well as Wood Pigeons. The noisy Pheasant continued to call from the opposite side of the gully. I passed the Yew then descended the Lighthouse Rock face following a deer track. I avoided slipping on the steepest bit passing the berry filled Holly and Woodsage below. Despite seeing grey cloud on the saline horizon, I was delighted to see from, the cliff tops, St. Catherines Head upon the Isle of Wight. The glow of the Needles Lighthouse was observed and Hurst Castle near the Solent. No more than a score of Guillemot occupied the cliff cave today, and yes a Greater Black Backed Gull was perched above them. Before reading the weather, I held a gate open as Katy herded one of the Hereford Cattle off the downland back into South Field. Who failed to secure a gate beside the Small Copse? I took readings from our new Wet & Dry bulb thermometer. The last 24 hours rainfall measured 20.9 mm!