A wonderful blustery morning, with a strong south easterly blowing across the Country Park National Nature Reserve.
The sheltered ledge being occupied by a few Guillemots, with a few more flying in and out, their wings whirring as they went.
The water was churning and the white crests bouncing and crashing, while from cliff edge of the gully a spray of water droplets exploded up and through the blowhole.
From the grassy and tussocky downland slopes a Meadow Pipit took flight, as I watched a plaintive call was being emitted, as I continued this call was heard as another and then another Meadow Pipit emerged from the ground.
As we move further into the new year, large patches of Gorse are beginning to flower, the yellow petals brightening up the dull morning. As I admired the brilliance a Stonechat moved and perched on the bush, the twig now dipping with the weight of the bird. The Stonechat showing its black head and orange breast, splash of white spotted as it dodged back into the mass of prickles.
Scanning the Hawthorn and Blackthorn scrub I was delighted to spot a Redwing, the pale cream stripe across its eye the first identification character spotted, as it moved slightly a flash of dark red appeared under its wing. Nearby, just for good measure and comparison perched a Song Thrush – looking a little plumper than the Redwing and more delicately marked.
A Roe Deer trotted across the muddy path, enabling me to have a good look at the very freshly made slotted hoof prints left behind.
Back towards the Centre, Blue Tits were whizzing backwards and forwards, poking their heads in the black Victorian bollard and the bird nesting box – perhaps checking for future nesting or roosting spots.