After tidying up after one our more sensible weddings, I was not surprised to hear the calls of a Tawny Owls as I left the Castle. It was unusual when one emerged from Reservoir Copse and briefly fly over my head as I rode home. This morning was low on light thanks to the cloud. I put on the heating for a Birthday Party in the Centre and would soon light a fire in the Belvedere ready for a glass engraving class.
A strong breeze made our radio aerial vibrate whilst a low hum came from a bollard nearby. Upon the 'All Sort’d' garden fence perched a preening Magpie. Some Common Daisies decorated the ground about the picnic benches and one, then two Woodpigeon flew by heading further inland. Branches of Blackthorn clattered, creaked, and squeaked as they moved in the wind. I visited the progress on the 'Demo Quarr', as volunteers Martin & Pete put in an extra shift yesterday. They had carried out lots of mortaring as they rebuild the wall about the frame that will hold the Interpretation panel.
Resembling white bones were the barkless branches of a dead Elder bush. Passing through the Gully road cutting I enjoyed the proximity of bright yellow Gorse flowers. Flying west was a Great Black-Backed Gull, whilst a Jackdaw was seen near the Lighthouse. Standing upon the 'Horseshoe' bridge I watched up to a dozen Jackdaws gradually gather in the neighbouring Sycamore. However their departure was one. I longed to see some small birds below but …. a tennis ball sized clump of a Grey Branching Lichen (possibly Ramalina fastigiate) was held at the tip of a Hawthorn branch. Beside the Lighthouse I was amazed to find possibly forty Pin Cushion Galls upon one Wild Rose plant, whilst a few Jackdaws perched upon the wires. Worm casts were upon the ground on an occasionally walked, but open cattle track. Holm Oak protruded out of a Privet bush on the south-east corner of the Lighthouse. Later I would find an acorn cup and leaves tens of metres from their Goat Plot source. Back on the coast the briefest peep of a passing Oystercatcher was heard. Again, good Guillemot numbers and reassuringly, a Fulmar active off the cliffs.