As the sun rose above the horizon the sound of cackling Jackdaws could be heard, followed by the loud squawking of a couple of Jays. As I looked the sun fell upon these birds amongst the branches of the Holm Oak trees, highlighting the flashes of blue on their wings and delicate buff pink chest.
Along the cliffs, my eye was caught by a whirring of wings low across the water, and to my delight a Guillemot was whizzing in towards the ledges. As I reached towards Tilly Whim, looking back the ledge was in view and on it well over 100 Guillemots, most of them looked to be in their winter non-breeding plumage. With white faces, and dark cap and eye stripe they look surprisingly different to the summer!
Tearing myself away, I spotted 2 Stonechats on the Gorse bush and heard a flock of Siskin making their way overhead.
Standing on the slope were two Roe Deer, a female and a smaller one – probably last years youngster, while wandering across one of the meadows later a handsome male with two-pronged antlers showing prominently.
A fly past of Wood Pigeons, probably about 150 in the group, these flocks will gain in numbers over the next few weeks and get into their thousands.
The delicate shape of a Kestrel flew across the Blackthorn hedgerow, then stopped in mid-air hovering. The chestnut back and grey head of this male catching the low sunlight, as it searched for its breakfast, looking for movement and trails in the grass below.
The sun was also shining on the dark brown stems of the Bracken, making them almost glow, while the fronds remained duller.
A few Swallows flying along the coast, while Pied Wagtails took flight from amongst the field were the Hereford Cattle are grazing as did a Meadow Pipit and a Pheasant.