A gorgeous early sunrise with the sky a deep pinky-red, as the sun rose above the horizon, around it the clouds looked deep purple in colour. To get an even better view I headed down to the cliffs, but by then the colour had sadly faded.
However, on the main ledge about 100 Guillemots were standing, their bodies erect, and on this occasion mostly facing outwards so their white fronts easily visible – perhaps they too were watching the crashing of the waves into the cliffs!
Overhead a Peregrine Falcon glided, the wings swept back and the chunky body hanging below as it headed towards me. A quick jink showed off its yellow talons, as it soared up to continue its glide westward.
Bing blown along by the wind was a Shag, as it was at the height of the cliffs it gave me a great chance to admire its shape, and as it flew it was tipping from side to side.
At Tilly Whim the blow-hole was blowing powerfully, plumes of white seas pray ejecting from the narrow funnel to cover me and the surrounding area with salt and water!
The sound of a Blackbird came from a patch of yellow flowering Gorse. The powerful fluty tune battling with the sound of the wind for airspace.
On the Coast Path a Stonechat was perched, the white flashes on its wing and neck plus slightly orange chest allowing for easy identification as it flitted.
As I climbed up the downland slope, patches of brown Field Blewit fungi was scattered, their caps slimy to look at and feel.
At the top the wind was whipping across, making it difficult to stand still, but walking down the other side it was like another world as it was so sheltered and barely a wind movement in the branches.
Here a flock of Long-tailed Tits were hanging in and around the Wild Clematis, Blue Tits and Great Tits moved about the Blackthorn and a Chaffinch perched in the Wayfaring Tree.
Patches of bright orange Stinking Iris berries scattered around the tall thin green leaves. Calling loudly from a long twisting rope of Black Bryony, dotted with bright red berries, arching across the fenceline, was a Wren.