Yet another change in the weather to enjoy – a south-westerly breeze and blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Flying above me the large black silhouette of a Raven, long wings and fingers showing as it goes towards the cliffs.
Lots of activity in the gully, the birds making the most of the improved conditions. Here a group of Blue Tits and Great Tits flitted through the bare stems of a Sycamore, pausing occasionally as they discovered a tasty morsel for breakfast.
Landing on the lichen covered branch of the Wild Pear a Bullfinch – such a majestic bird, the male with a bright pink chest, jet black and grey head marking, on a closer look the beak appears shorter than other finches.
In the gully a large Holly bush, still covered in red berries, was occupied by a Blackbird, its yellow beak catching the sun’s rays. While from a large patch of Old Man’s Beard the ‘seeping’ call of a Greenfinch added to the soundscape of the morning. The other sounds included the tinkling of water as it ran down the bottom of the deep-sided channel before tumbling out into the sea.
On the water, bobbing in groups are Guillemots, over 80 of them, with just the one still being in the winter plumage. Bobbing in with them a couple of Razorbills while in a separate group another 19 Razorbills, the dark black feathering contrasting with the brilliant white. Through the binoculars their white stripes on the bill could be seen.
Zooming around the higher areas of the cliffs a few Fulmars, thin grey wings controlling their sweeping in and out of the rock face. An occasional cackle as one passed another which was sat in a small nook.
Spring is on its way, with Primroses in flower, a splattering of the pale lemon flowers, and a lovely patch of purple flowers of Spring Crocus in the woods and yellow Daffodils, coming up around the Castle.