Taking a different route to usual, I set off from the base towards Long meadow. The first sights and sounds I met were a pair of young Magpies, still looking fat and fluffy with stubby little tails, having only fledged recently.
I then spy a pair of Rabbits grazing the car park grass, as I hear a Chiffchaff announcing itself to the world.
Passing Long meadow I saw the abundant flowers and grasses swaying gently in the breeze, the vivid colourings of the Common Spotted Orchids and Red Clover contrasting nicely with the more subdued grass.
Down through the woodland I took notice of the wonderful smells that heavy rainfall always seems to bring. The Woody Nightshade and Stinking Iris that border the path as it opens out drew my attention, which was then refocused to what was possibly a Dartford Warbler. As I walked down the diagonal path I could hear a fishing vessel chug-chug-chugging along, just before I saw an ever-present Bloody-Nosed Beetle.
A trio of Wood Pigeons zipped past in tight formation, as I imagined them racing amongst themselves, or even better I pondered would be a multi-species bird race!
From the clifftop I was treated to a splendid male Kestrel swooping and hovering momentarily before repositioning. A Rock Pipit and Stonechat were showing nicely down towards the gully, and a doe Roe Deer bounded out of sight as I headed up to the lighthouse.
In amongst the tall grass and assorted Vetches I was met with a bonanza of Lepidoptera, including Adonis and Common Blue, Small Heath and several unidentified Moths. I could see across the fields the Handsome Hereford Bull was serving the heifers as intended, whilst the Jackdaws cackled from the fence.
As I meandered my way back up the Lighthouse road I passed some Bee Orchids, and then my highlight of the day was a Queen Garden Bumblebee and several worker Red-tailed Bumblebees humming around, sampling the delights of the Wild Thyme and Birds-foot Trefoil.