Walking towards the castle one notices how beautiful the morning is, plenty of sunshine with some moderate to high wispy clouds and mild for the time of year.
I walk through the lower car park I notice Swallows still swooping, as well as crows and Robins flying and calling, I then walk towards the castle a Chaffinch is heard, crows dominate the castle roof and a Grey Squirrel is seen climbing a Holm Oak.
Standing at the balcony near the Gallery I look out at how beautiful the English Channel is as the sun reflects on it, and the Globe can be seen in the foreground. Here one notices a small group of Linnets flying together, the sound of Dunnocks and a Goldfinch, as well as a Jackdaw in the distance.
As I walk the coastal trail, I notice a mass of Crows sitting on holm oaks and flying around, as well as a Jackdaw birched on a Tamarisk. As one looks staringly at the English Channel several Shags can be spotted flying from one part of the cliff to the next, and four Fulmar’s flying west probably hunting for some food. As I walk, I hear a little Wren, and in the distance, I take my binoculars to four large birds in the distance past the lighthouse – Greater Black Backed Gulls.
Rather than going straight on towards the lighthouse like I wanted, time restriction meant I had to walk up the diagonal path. Here I am surrounded by European Gorse, Brambles, Old mans beard, as well as Stinking Iris and various grass species. Singing in the background one could hear a Great Tit, and spotted was a Grey Wagtail.
As I walk further on one enters a completely different habitat, a small woodland full of Sycamore, Holm Oaks, and some Ash. I stop to listen, I hear a Firecrest making its beautiful song, as a Jay screams in the background, and the crows continue to call. There were other birds heard further on, however as the Bird Ringers had a net towards that direction I could hear them one couldn’t be shore whether it was a recording to attract the birds for surveying, or for real!
I make a different track from the direction I wanted to take, so I walk through a thin track and tall grass to get to the weather station. As I do so, I spot a Goldcrest swoop in front of me. Now it’s time to record the weather and get on with the diary before my castle morning shift.