As I headed out to the sound of drops of rain landing in the puddles and splashing off the ground I was greeted by the loud calling of a male Blackbird, which was perched on the top of the silvery Elder tree.
Squelching across the meadows, so much water and mud, I stopped to admire the huge Black Pines in the Large Copse, as I did my eye was caught by the skittish movement of a tiny bird in the branches of the low growing Hazel.
A flash of red, white yellow surround, and a white eye stripe makes it unmistakably a Firecrest, and the brightest part of my patrol! So far it has been a very good winter for seeing these miniscule birds, not only in the woods but also hedgerows.
Off towards the cliffs, and a black splodge on the ground made me look closer to see a Greater Bloody-nose Beetle heading towards a patch of Madder, whose dark hooked leaves grabbed my lace as I passed.
Clambering across the thick shiny leaves of Sea Beet a couple of Spire Snail – Cochlicella acuta.
At sea a group of Guillemots was accompanied by 12 Razorbills – could have been more but my binoculars were then covered in water from another downpour making it impossible to count further.
Further out, a Gannet was skimming low across the dull grey water, the gleaming white wings flashing as it turned and soared.
On the slopes of the downs a Parasol Mushroom and a Field Blewitt, both low to the turf and amongst a patch of rough Tor Grass.
The piercing piping call of a Meadow Pipit could be heard above the wind as it took flight.