As I started my stroll towards the clifftops, I was delighted to see at close quarters a male Roe Deer as he lounged in the grass, his antlers still with some soft fluffy velvet.
The sound of a Chiffchaff coming down from the catkin covered Sallow branches, the bird eventually spotted amongst twigs. Also buzzing around these pollen covered flowers were Buff-tailed Bumble Bees, Red-tailed Bumble Bees and Drone Flies.
Along the Blackthorn hedgerow, now turning white with blossom, was a glimpse of another warbler, on closer checking this was a Willow Warbler – my first of the year.
From above the field behind me, the powerful song of a Skylark wafted down, while a Chaffinch was occupying the bare Hawthorn bush.
A flash of blue and white alerted me to the Jay which was perched clumsily in the swaying twigs of a Horse Chestnut, the leaves, in sets of three, are bright green.
At the cliffs on the water a scattering of Razorbills and Guillemots but none to be seen on the ledges, however a couple of Herring Gulls looked to be inspecting a cranny, and a Fulmar was cackling from its nook as another skimmed by. Also flying by a Shag, which was carrying something in its beak, probably nesting material.
Returning up the Lighthouse Road, a cacophony of sound was coming from the bridge area, a chorus of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Robin, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch and Magpies.
However as I swept with my binoculars I stopped at a bright yellow splodge, which as it moved turned into a magnificent male Yellowhammer – gorgeous highlight of my day.
The Rookery down in the woods is increasing in size, with a count of 11 nests so far in the Sycamore trees, last year it was only 9 nests in this new Rook colony.