Without the wind, it didn’t feel too cold as I started my mornings patrol. Off into the woodlands where a number of our plants are displaying their fruits. This included the Cherry Laurel, the dark shiny green leaves contrasting wit the bright red cherry sized berries. Nearby the Japanese Spindle was covered in small pale pink and green blobs, these berries not yet ripe.
One of our unruly Bay Trees was covered in its small almost yellow heads, showing up against the dark green leaves.
On the woodland floor the tall erect leaves of Stinking Iris alongside their bright orange spike of small round berries while the leaves of Pendulous Sedge, Harts-tongue Fern and Male Fern help to provide a covering to the earth.
Some rusty brown leaves still hanging onto the Beech tree, where a couple of Great Tits were posing on the twigs, fluffing up their feathers as they perched.
Towards the cliffs where in the distance a Gannet was spotted, a white winged adult, followed a little later by a dark winged juvenile, both of these birds flying low to the grey water.
The sound of the Guillemots could be heard as they jostled on their ledge, groups were also bobbing on the water.
Soaring around the rock face was a Fulmar, a glorious action as it glided on its narrow stiff wings, then another appeared, then another, until I was able to watch four of these magnificent birds at once. Always difficult to count as they swing in and out appearing and disappearing.
Suddenly, overhead a Peregrine Falcon was spotted, as this bird of prey headed towards the cliffs, then changing direction to fly along parallel to it. This was a great opportunity to enjoy the majesty of this falcon.
The churring call of a Blue Tit captured my attention as I wandered past a pile of rambling Wild Clematis and the sudden blast of Wren came from the bottom of the same bush.