Rain pounded down as I walked up the hill, with a squelch in my step, with 23mm in the last 24 hours, though easing off during the morning rounds to leave behind a mild and dry (though rather grey!) morning.
Rain drummed on the canopy of Holm Oak leaves as I stepped through the gate into Sunnydale, where the first delicate blue Spring Crocuses are starting to flower. Nearby plenty of Snowdrop buds, along with the lacy green leaves of Cow Parsley and Herb Robert. Around the Aviary Glade Hazel catkins dance as they are struck by fat raindrops, and a very bedraggled looking Crow wanders across the flat canopy of the Shed.
At the path edges, fresh Daisy flowers are starting to appear, though the woodland floor still feels a little barren.
On Caravan Terrace, plenty of Primrose leaves, though none in flower just yet – the only splashes of colour from a male Bullfinch, popping out to survey the view as the rain eased, and the orange seeds of Stinking Iris and the little red berries of Cotoneaster.
As I headed ‘Round the Head’ I was treated to spectacular display by a flock of Gannets, with 30 or 40 feeding just a hundred metres or so out from the cliffs, circling and weaving in criss-crossing spirals, before folding their wings and plunging knife-like into the sea.
More Gannets passing by as I headed west, along a steady flow of black and white Guillemots, on tiny flickering wings. Below the ledge another 50 bounce on the water, mixed in with a dozen Razorbills, with much blacker plumage and chunky beaks.
Above them, Fulmars wheel smoothly, making daredevil headlong dashes towards the cliffs before swerving away just inches from the cliff-face.
A Great Black-backed Gull flaps ponderously by on broad wings, as a few Common Gull pass further out to sea.
A Raven croaks from the top of the Mile Markers, with a Kestrel whizzing across the Lightouse Field.