The thunder and lightening last night seems to have blown most of the morning mist away that’s been bothering us for the last few days. A good view can be taken in from the cliffs today, the waves breaking, scattering white horses with their wakes. I kept a close eye on the water just in case there were signs of yesterdays pod of dolphins, spotted after 6pm last night, but alas, those possible sightings in my peripheral vision turned out to be lobster pot buoys!
Cutting across the car parks I nip down the Diagonal Path and hear the satisfying hum of some Buff Tailed Bumblebee queens, exploring for new nest site. These bees are one of the largest in Europe and they nest in the ground, usually using old vole or mice nests. From the path, Crane Flies rise like drones from the ground, before darting off sideways in a quick zip! A Whitethroat calls on top of some Blackthorn, its fresh, cheerful notes pairing nicely with the sound of the sea way down below. It rises up and sort of flutters above its perch a little before coming back down to rest. I have a great view of the white ruffle around its neck, looking like a thickly folded winter scarf. From the top of the Diagonal Path I can already hear the gurgling calls of Guillemot way down below on the water. Descending down the path a brightly coloured Chaffinch flits from perch to perch, following me along the side of the path. Overhead 2 Goldfinch fly over, landing in the distance on some Hawthorn, before taking flight again.
Down on the Coast Path, heading East toward the Dolphin Hut, below me, were around 6 Fulmar, elegantly gliding the warm airs rising up from the cliffs, coasting past my, gently turning their heads, there jet back eyes looking at me coldly, before a tweak of their wing and zoom, down the plunge to their rocky nests. On the path a Carrion Crow lands, making an odd noise as its dive bombed by 3 Jackdaw. Not sure what the reasoning for this was, I was a little late to this party, but the Crow wasn’t bothered and carried on doing what it was doing, unaffected by the other Corvids annoyance. By the Adder camera I have a wonderful close up view of a Chiffchaff as its works its way through the foliage, picking away, its yellow brow highlighted and its incessant flicking of its tail as it works its patch. Sometimes it’s the little things that attract the most interest!