As I looked back at this time last year, the weather the total opposite, toady being wet, grey and mild (12.8’) while the 1st December last year was sunshine and very chilly with a frost (I know which I prefer!)
So in the dullness of the early morning a splash of white as some Jays wafted their way along the lichen encrusted Blackthorn hedgerow. the white rump showing as they flew away, once perched the buffy pink was just about visible.
As I turned, a smaller flash of another white rump indicated a Bullfinch as it landed amongst the branches and shiny green leaves of the Japanese Spindle.
In the woods, most of the deciduous trees have lost their leaves, with a damp mushy carpet of Horse Chestnut, Sycamore and English Oak leaves underfoot. However a couple of Beech trees are still showing the glorious rusty brown colour, providing some brightness in the dullness.
Many of the Hazel trees still with leaves, mostly these are a pale yellow tinges around the outside with brown. As I stood and admired the changing that autumn brings, my attention was caught by the high-pitched calling of birds amongst the branches.
Searching the twigs for the culprits, I eventually spotted the tiny Goldcrests moving about. A quick flutter then onto the bark, and round the back so it couldn’t be seen, this action continued and I eventually gave up on getting a good view of these Goldcrests!
The churr of a Great Tit came from a patch of Bamboo, while a Blackbird stood on the fallen branch of a Holm Oak.
Down on the cliff, the Guillemots were again occupying the ledges, a mass of black and white bodies jostling for space, their ‘grrring’ call wafting up to my vantage point. They have been spending most mornings here, then they have usually disappeared off by about 11am, to bob around on the water somewhere offshore – we don’t know where!