A very muddy National Nature Reserve after the rain of the last few days, with puddles galore!
Hovering over the rough clumps of Tor Grass was a Kestrel. The chestnut brown back of this male, catching the early morning sunlight. The movements of the wings keeping the head of this bird in perfectly still as it hovered. A wonderful display as it dropped down into grass, however it came up empty taloned.
Taking flight from the short grass in the middle of the field was a Meadow Pipit. The calling of this bird made allowing me to follow it as it flew across the sky.
A Pied Wagtail looped across, the black and white markings, showing against the blue sky. As I looked up the blue was starting to be covered by a fluffy mass of small white clouds, but as I continued the small clouds were starting to join together.
A check around the Cattle, who are grazing in Saxon field (for now, but they will be moved over the next few days).
Suddenly emerging from the edge of field was a Pheasant, accompanied by the loud squawking as it flew just above the grass until reaching the opposite dry-stone wall when it shot up and over the top.
Prancing across Field 2 was a Sika Deer, the dark brown coat, large antlers and flashing white tail making it easy to recognise.
As it reached the wall, it didn’t leap over like a Roe Deer would normally do, but instead, stood, then jumped onto it, rattling the stones as it did, and leapt off into the next field.
Some bright orange berries of Stinking Iris along the bottom of the hedges, these berries alongside the tall thin leaves.
Despite it being December there are still a few Greater Knapweed flower blooming, providing splashes of purple in the meadows, while the little round heads of the Red Clover poke up every know and then.
Down on the cliffs the Guillemots are again in occupation, jostling for space on the ledge.