Another wonderful sunrise, with pinks and oranges and purples across the sky (yes it was very early!).
Craning my neck upwards to look into the canopy of the woodland allowed a flock of Tits to be spotted, the adults and juveniles of our tree common species mingling together as they searched the leaves for insects.
The Great Tits and Blue Tits flitting between three-lobed leaves of Horse Chestnut and the roundish leaves of Hazel and Beech. The long tails of the Long-tailed Tits providing balance and swing as they to dangled above.
A sudden movement on the rough trunk of a Macrocarpa, and a Treecreeper was on its was up the bark, hopping upwards gripping with its long toes, the dappled plumage indicating it was a juvenile.
Two Jays wafted through the trunks, while the movement of a tiny bird on the Apple Tree caused me to raise the binoculars to spot the young Firecrest amongst the leaves.
Into the meadow where butterflies abound, Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Small Heath and Small Skipper all moving in amongst the flowers and grasses.
Landing for a moment on a Wild Carrot head was a Six-spot Burnet Moth, a lovely black and red blurr.
A large patch of the pale pinkish Red Bartsia, alongside Mouse-ear Hawkweed, Rough Hawkbit, Greater Knapweed and Tufted Vetch provide a delightful view, with the tall bright pink Pyramidal Orchids also poking up.
Yesterday evening Pipistrelle Bats were swooping around the Castle, a Tawny Owl was calling, a Badger toddled and Summer Chafers buzzed. From the cliff an occasional growling of a guillemot could be heard – perhaps for the last time this year.
The start of July, and sadly all the Guillemots on the top and lower ledges have finished their breeding for the season, the last few disappearing yesterday as tea for a cloud of Ravens. To watch this traumatic end – see our Guillemot page on the website.