With blue skies and a fresh wind, the sea was mass of white crests churning above the blue water, this view, a glorious way to start the day.
Bobbing on the water well over 100 Guillemots, plus a few Razorbills, many of these birds washing and turning over and over in the water, while others just bobbed. Around them constant activity as more Auks come and go from the ledges where chicks are growing fast, waiting for Sprats and Sandeels to the brought in by the parent for breakfast.
Zooming around the cliffs a superb Fulmar, one of the masters of the airwaves, fantastic to watch them as they fly.
A sudden disturbance to the Feral Pigeons alerted me to the arrival of a Peregrine Falcon, the wings swept back as it sped, then opening outwards when starting to swoop upwards, where a second Peregrine was spotted.
The Rock Pipits chirping noisily, the erect grey streaked birds flitting along the clifftops. Amongst the Tamarisk (now covered with dangly white furry tails) a young recently fledged Chiffchaff was perched, the fluffy feathering being blown in the wind.
Emerging from the Blackthorn scrub were more young birds, 3 Common Whitethroats spotted as they hung onto the branches.
In the sunlight, the pink nape of a Linnet was highlighted, a super sight of the adult as it fed a streaky youngster, these birds both clinging to the spiky twigs of Gorse.
Into a sheltered part of the valley and a Meadow Brown butterfly was sitting on the spike of a Bramble (the glowers not yet out), the underside of the butterfly’s wings dotted with a single black spot. Fluttering nearby a Painted Lady and a Speckled Wood.
A constant change in the flower mosaic, with the pale yellow Ladies Bedstraw just starting to come out, while the yellow Horseshoe Vetch is now going over. Large patches of Kidney Vetch, on the downland slopes, some wonderful examples of Ox-Eye Daisies and Pale Flax amongst the meadows, while occasional dots of cerise pink from Grass Vetchling and pale pink of Bee Orchids catch the attention (from the right angle in the right place!).
On the yellow dandelion like flowerhead of Rough Hawkbit a Thick-kneed Flower Beetle was sat, the green case reflecting the sunlight. Across the grass a Bloody-nosed Beetle wound its way – looking violet not black on close inspection