Starting off the morning patrol from the car park I heard the chattering of the resident House Sparrows, followed by the sight of a cute little Wren.
Heading on down towards the Castle I wondered to myself where the glorious May sunshine had gone, as it was very fresh and overcast with a nip in the air. Moving along the coast path round the Globe a big Greater Periwinkle offered a splash of colour in the hedge, whilst several HUUUGE Woodlouse trundled along the dry stone wall and a Bluebottle fly rested.
On the path an ever-present Bloody Nosed Beetle was mooching its way along and through the air a fine specimen of a Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris buzzed past, being buffeted by the sea breeze.
Out over the water the usual checklist could be ticked, with a handsome Greater Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Fulmars and Guillemots all present and correct. A lone Shag flapped across the water, whilst a Raven skimmed past the cliffs no doubt looking out for a nice fresh Guillemot egg for breakfast.
Leaving the clifftop behind and wandering up the gully I saw Horseshoe and Kidney Vetch, Chalk Milkwort and Sage. Some Early English Gentian are popping up, along with the funny little Birds Foot Trefoil which I prefer to call Bacon and Eggs flowers. A Bunny shot out from across the gully, and several Swallows were flitting about. In the Blackthorn a Common Whitethroat and Great Tit were making themselves heard, as if to make sure they got a mention in the diary.
The most exciting sighting for me however was my personal first of not just one but at least eight Adonis Blue Butterflies, resplendent in their captivating bright blue colouring. As a final note, some Woody Nightshade was to be found opposite the dry stone walling centre, just before I came across some freshly burrowed Solitary bee nest mounds on the path back to base.