A bit of a shock this morning, with blue sky and a few fluffy white clouds plus a chill in the air, for my patrol, such a welcome change from the grey of recent days.
Overhead two large Cormorants, the pale bellies visible as they went over my head, before changing direction and cutting across the headland towards the west.
The calling of a groups of about 6 Herring Gulls made me look seaward again where 2 Shags were flying low above the water, skimming the surface.
As the sun began to rise above the horizon, the fronds of the Tamarisk were silhouetted, providing interesting shapes. The loud cronk of a Raven then alerted me to the huge black bird swooping up and then dropping down as it flew along the cliff edge.
A cackling array of Jackdaws were perched on the top of the cappers of the low cliff wall, 1 or 2 per upright stone, when a sudden rush of air brought the Feral Pigeons to my attention.
The Feral Pigeons circled round to be surprised by the sudden appearance of a Peregrine Falcon, the wings swept back as it chased the flock, which were by now jinking around to avoid capture. As the chase ended a second Peregrine took up the challenge making the birds alter direction once again, and once more the Feral Pigeons escaped the clutches of the Peregrines.
As they settled back the birds of prey swooped up together showing off their dark bluey-grey backs before gliding off into the distance. A great performance for me!
A fly past of 3 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 adults in their splendid white rimmed black wings, and an all brown juvenile – all calling loudly and deeply. However no Guillemots on the ledges or water this morning.