In terms of flowers I was happy to see increasing numbers of my favourite Yellow Wort (or Paul’s leaf piercer) coming into flower. Plenty of Thistle flowers are developing which will be good for our seed eating birds. Near lighthouse road an Apple Tree developed fruits. Yellow Rattle has some stems which have developed seed which means it on its way to living up to its name.
A Flight of ten Cormorants passed eastwards overhead, later off the cliffs I saw a lone one heading west. Early on a Kestrel dove down into one of the grassy glade between scrub in the Wares above the quarr. As it did not rise for some time I assume it caught prey. Later I enjoyed superb views from above the Mile markers of the birds hovering over the gully with the Lighthouse backdrop. Nearby I discovered the remains of another Guillemot egg shell for which I accuse the Ravens! I spied a Scold of six Jackdaws near the gully steps no doubt soon to increase in numbers.
Amongst the grass I spied the empty cocoon of a Six Spot Burnet moth. It is perhaps unusual it that as a day flying moth it has bright blue and red spotted winged, but its caterpillars use a leaf blade to make a cocoon. I saw two Bloody Nosed Beetles both climbing the stems of a Bedstraw which, struck me as a challenge considering these have relatively bare stems with separated whorls of leaves. A Silvery Y moth and a range of micro moths were also seen. Beside the small copse a male Speckled Wood pursued in a female in a pirouetting dance, however, no mating ensued!
Within the gully in disturbed a Roe Deer Doe and several Rabbits! I observed the cattle and rabbits grazing in the coastal slops of 10A. However, I later learnt that someone had left a field gate open releasing 24 cattle onto the coast path. Our challenge will be to herd them back in today!
Today's diary written by Paul