It’s a windy, overcast and slightly wet morning with the ground soaked from last nights downpour and high gusts. I walk through the car park, there a Robin is heard chirping away, as well as the Learning Centre alarm – which was abruptly stopped (Katie must be doing something in there!). I continue, a Wood Pigeon is spotted, the Holm Oaks are seen swaying around in the moderate wind. I put up my hoodie due to cold ears, there I spot 3x Crows flying and two brave Human joggers with shorts on!
As I go past the lower car park and go onto the track towards the castle, I notice how leafless the Sycamore trees are to the right of me – It’s about time now I thought… It’s meteorological winter in 4 days! I walk into the copse opposite the castle – there I notice the wetness of the Hart’s-tongue Ferns, a Monolith under a leafless sycamore, and with the leafless trees I notice one can see the English Channel from this small woodland habitat, whilst a Magpie is heard.
I head left onto the diagonal path, I see a Robin feed on a worm right next to a fallen tree that has become a habitat pile with Ivy surrounding it. Stinking Iris is also spotted around here. The waves of the sea could be seen, looking mesmerising yet dangerous for Humans! I see a big ship heading east with one of the towers to my right, in front of that is Gorse, Brambles and Ivy. I look behind me, Ferrel Pigeons and a Shag are spotted as I pass some Tamarisk to the bottom of the Diagonal path. I go to the other side of the small gate: here I see a Shag (may or may not be the same one seen earlier) fly in the opposite direction and two juvenile Herring Gulls.
I walk down to the bottom, the waves are quite large causing turbulence but not as extreme as I’ve experienced before – here I see many coastal indicator plants such as Rock Samphire, Sea Aster, and Thrift, as well as the many lichen species that I would love to learn more about due to their indication of clean air. As I watch the waves hit the cliffs – I notice a shag fly and then rest on the water, it then goes hide under the water for a few seconds – this Shag is fishing.
I walk back in a rush as time is not waiting! On the way back I spot the Guillemots back in their cave down on the cliffs - probably hiding from the wind… A flock of Linnets swoop above me with their unique song, a Wren is spotted fluttering on a large Hawthorn, and when I was doing the weather, I spotted a Jay flying behind the weather station which was nice to see!