It was pleasantly fresh despite clear sky and sun. Three Swallows passed over the centre as my shadow and I headed out. Offshore a sloop slowly and silently headed west close into the cliffs. As a Magpie fled the vicinity of the measure mile a distant “stone pecker” rang out. By the Lighthouse Jackdaws one on the post the other on the overhead wire. A female Gatekeeper basked, upon flowerless Gorse.
A quartet of Jackdaws were scattered from the clifftop Cock & Hen wall cappers. The sea cliffs were quiet with one Feral Dove gently gliding down with wings spread. Within the former Granite Pentonville Gate post, Mica and Quartz crystals glistening in sun. Herring Gulls flew as I descended into the full shade off the bedrock steps. Upon the slope up to the lighthouse a female Small Blue basked at the edge of bared ground. At the top a Stonechat pair were in Elder beside the Lighthouse. Below were spent Bluebell stems, still. Crawling beneath the tentacles of Blackberry was a Bloody Nosed Beetle. Several multi stemmed, low lying Holm Oak had established beneath the overhead wires traversing Lighthouse Green. More rewarding was finding a patch of Harebells opposite the gully rock exposure. Several tall, slender Sycamore stems held drown, brown crisp leaves, although others nearby were healthier. A Meadow Grasshopper avoided landing in a dew wearing sheet web. Yarrow held featherlike leaves as I ascended the wide, trampled short turf of the coastal ridge. Today NCI St. Albans Head was visible. On the inland slope of the gully first one, then close behind a second Roe Deer emerged. Both grazed the grassy slope. A blue Dragonfly flew by, a Chiff Chaff called, and more Swallows flew overhead. From here the neat straight rows of cut drying hay could be seen in the meadows. Upon the ground was a Kestrel feather, a distant Cockerel was heard as I indulged in a few fresh Blackberries. In the shade before the Sleeper bridge “danced” a Speckled Wood duo.
In the shade of Saxon’s soggy Sycamore corner Hemp Agrimony still held flowers, whilst taller than me Burdock was ready to set burrs contain seeds onto passing creatures. Tufted Vetch flowers, thanks to a Blackthorn host, also were above my head height. Goldfinch chatter was heard near the Small Copse, whilst above the copse canopy flew a score of Swallows.