I was surprised this morning to find that my car was completely frosted over, making me 5 minutes late for work! But the crisp cold sunshine beats the overcast foggy drizzle of yesterday putting a wide smile on my face! Within the car park the usual Robins, Great Tits and Blue Tits can be heard as Carrion Crows sit on top of trees. I walk past a few Sycamore trees and take the small copse and diagonal path where ‘Ivy’d’ Ash, Holm Oak and Sycamore are dominant, the ground layer is full of Ground Ivy, Harts-Tongue Ferns, other ferns and Stinking Iris, as well as many Lords and Ladies springing up. Logs can be seen spotted within the growth creating a great habitat for fungi, insects and arachnids, as well as other plants and anything that feeds on these. I see a Great Tit up on Holm Oak and hear Jackdaws in the distance.
One continues the diagonal path, now giving way to a scrubby habitat with European Gorse, Blackthorn and Hawthorn, the sea is so beautiful and calm you can hear the Guillemots from up here, in fact you can see them! A Jay is heard screeching in the nearby copse, a Wood Pigeon as well as Feral Pigeon are seen, 4 Linnets are spotted with there song above me, as well as a Robin clicking away on Gorse, and 4 crows on top of the metal towers – 2 fighting off 2 it seemed. Heard first then seen was a Dunnock singing away on leafless Tamarisk.
Past the diagonal path and gates, I go right to the bottom, here I see Thrift, Sea Aster, Rock Samphire and other salt tolerant plants, as well as many Lichens on the rocks meaning an indicator of the great air quality here, and mosses further away from the sea.
I walk back up and pass Tilly Whim (way to cold to see any Adders on the rocky steps yet!), on this route I see a Magpie, Guillemots, possible Razor Bills in between (however did not have my Binoculars to verify 100%), Herring Gulls, Fulmars, Shags, Feral Pigeons, Wood Pigeons, Crows, Jackdaws, Raven, and even the odd Human jogging passed me.
Have a happy and joyful Sunday!