It’s quiet morning through Sunnydale with the bird nesting ending for another year. I hear very few bird sounds excepting the gentle Woodpigeon ‘coo’, the occasional Wren, and Gulls cawing high in the sky.
I meander my way up along coast path before being drawn into one of the viewpoints framed by Austrian Pine. A steep drop below where clay slumps and rocks tumble. White Poplar, Pampas Grass, and purple-flowered Buddleia all compete to establish themselves upon the landslip.
Below, the bay is calm with crystal clear water, sandy-bottomed patches reflect a turquoise blue even under this morning’s cloud. The silhouette of large Atlantic Grey Seal floats within a channel through the Thongweed - which is all pressed against the water surface for the low tide. The seal bobs there for a long time, occasionally glancing back and forth, before swimming off into the depths.
Spikes of bright orange berries have appeared where the Cuckoo Pint has come to fruit, and the loss of the Bramble flowers means an abundance of blackberries will soon follow suit.
An increasing number of glades are filled with the towering Willowherb which is now adorned with its pretty pink flowers. Concurrent with Hemp Agrimony which is much paler in colour, but no less attractive to butterflies.
A hum of insects as I approach the upper Fleabane-filled glade. Whirring Grasshoppers and the buzz of Common Carder Bee. Brown Argus and Speckled Wood butterfly in flight, and a flash of orange from the Gatekeepers.
The top of long meadow displays a beautiful mosaic of colour: Red Clover, purple Selfheal, white Wild Carrot topped with Red Soldier Beetles. All this alongside an impressive diversity of yellow: Bristly Ox-tongue, Bird’s Foot Trefoil, Agrimony, Rough Hawkbit, Beaked Hawk's-beard, Mouse-ear Hawkweed, and Ragwort. Towards the office, the beautiful Knapweed, Wild Parsnip, Teasel, and fluffy Lady’s Bedstraw.