With today being the shortest of the year, the grey covering of cloud added to the darkness of the morning patrol. Thus making sounds and smell more useful!
A waft of almond as I brushed past the large heart-shaped leaves of the Winter Heliotrope, the white flowers on spikes from amongst – one of the few plants to flower at this time of year.
The sound of a Blackbird singing added to that of the Robin, both spotted with a bit of effort in amongst the dark branches of the Hazel and Snowberry – still a very few white globe berries on this exotic plant.
The high-pitched calls of Goldcrests came from amongst the leaves of the Bay – on tearing the dark green leaf the lovely smell of Bay was emitted. On a roll, I tore the leaf of the Stinking Iris and got a whiff of stink – some alike it to marmite, others roast beef, others just horrible!
Skimming along the edge of the newly laid hedgerow was a Sparrowhawk, the stripey underneath of this bird of prey looking beautiful as it banked around and disappeared around the scrub.
By the old Victorian bridge, a movement as a Kestrel dropped to the ground, the chestnut back just about catching the light, as it rose again and perched on a branch of a Sycamore.
Virtually no glimmer of the sunrise, just a very slightly brighter patch of grey sky ov9.5er the water on the south-east horizon.
However skimming then rising into the sky a couple of Gannets, a magnificent sight, with the brilliant white backs and wings, tipped with black feathers.
On the ledge Guillemots were crammed in, all seemed to be sporting their new ‘breeding’ or ‘summer’ plumage of dark heads.
Two Great Black-backed Gull soaring around the cliffs, another majestic bird with a white edging to their wings.