As I park my car this morning a Kestrel flies over the top and comes to land in an Ash Tree, its feathers puffed up against the wind. Down in the dell a Squirrel scampers up a Holm Oak, while a Carrion Crow swoops past with something for breakfast in its beak.
Another (or possibly the same one from earlier) Kestrel sits on the wall of the caravan terrace bridge. A Squirrel eating an acorn sits at the far end of the wall, it runs along the wall towards the Kestrel forming a standoff between the two. The Kestrel ends up backing down and fly’s up to sit in a Holm Oak.
Heading down the steep path a rustling in some Brambles off to the side catches my attention a tiny Gold Crest pops out before flying off further down the slope. Behind me a Robin belts out its song at the top of its lungs. Round the corner at the bottom of the slope the wind slaps me in the face sending my hair skyward.
The waves crash into the bottom of the cliffs relentlessly. Four Gannets swoop elegantly over the water the strong winds not fazing them. Guillemots rush towards the shelter of the cliff ledge, tiny wings beating ferociously. Two Fulmars battle the wind to form their uniform loops in and out the of cliffs.
Looking back towards the Guillemot ledge its packed with birds huddled against the wind, though not so packed that have resorted to sitting on the big rock yet. The waves crash over Tilly Whim ledge while the blow hole at the bottom of the gully is sending water vaper skyward with every crash of a wave.