A cooler morning, with patches of blue sky, but very little wind, so down to the cliffs was my aim, via the Hereford Cows, who are happily grazing in the meadows – to ensure they don’t escape, please make sure you close and latch the gates.
Lovely views of a Sparrowhawk, as it moved across the sky, the flap-flap-glide flight technique very obvious before it disappeared behind the hedgerow.
Splashes of bright yellow Gorse flowers are scattered across the spiky mass alongside the diagonal path, perched on the top of some of these Goldfinches, the bright feather colours catching the shards of sunlight.
Lots of activity from small migrant birds this morning, but for me one of those annoying mornings, when these small birds were flying over into the light, too far away for me to identify. Also the time to remind me how poor my recognition of bird calls is – as many within these flocks were calling!!! I was able to recognise Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Siskin as well as Pied Wagtail.
On the cliffs a group of 45 Jackdaws were perched until the large Raven swept past them, with a deep croaking call, the Jackdaws then took flight with lots of cackling.
As a sun beam landed on the water, it caught the white bird bobbing offshore. A gaze through the binoculars and this bird was a Guillemot, my first of the autumn. This Guillemot was sporting its winter plumage, with a white face and head. Having spotted this one I was keen to see if the ledges were being occupied by any others – but none were present.
On the Tamarisk, a Chiffchaff was moving, the greenish, brown body marked with a pale eye-stripe, easy to miss amongst the soft green fronds of this exotic hardy salt resistant plant.
A variety of colours from the berries, with bright orange from the split capsules of Stinking Iris, bright red from the Dog Rose and bright pink from the European Spindle. As well there is the black of Tutsan and Dogwood, purple of Sloe (Blackthorn) and deep red of Hawthorn.