Well this morning’s highlight was around 100 Swallows flitting about overhead in the wind. Less conspicuous were some 40 House Martins whom I could only distinguish them when I caught sight of their broader tails. Still I did not witness them congregating on the over head wires. Some 50 Goldfinches also made an appearance. An unidentified small Footman Moth battled against the wind and collided with a tussock of grass. Such was the wind that the metal plates or perhaps ladder on the mile marker rattled in the wind.
I believe it may have been a Skua which I observed off shore apparently dropping something from its mouth and then swooping down to recapture it. Perhaps it was its own pellet which it was catching just to practice its skills within the wind. Similarly a Raven flew over the gully mouth a dropped a hand sized object into scrub beside me. Several Robins broadcast and even investigated us from the scrub. Widget sent up a Wren below the quarr. On the downs above the quarr a Kestrel skimmed the ground in front of us.
Also near the gully beside the coast path on the Lighthouse side some forty Solitary Bees (possibly Colletes halophilus) were hovering. Upon closer inspection I saw several resting upon the fescue whilst they basked in the sun, I even observed one investigate two chambers. Whilst a Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle crossed my path on Lighthouse Road I only heard the occasional Bush Cricket from within the sward.
A strong breeze caused the Ash, Sycamore, and single Yew trees to sway in the wind even on the Lighthouse slope of the gully. Stinking Iris pods looked like miniature corn cobs bursting at the seams. Beside Lighthouse Bridge a Blackbird sang from the depths. An Evergreen Ivy bush had some of its flowers out which meant it justified the Hoverflies and Bees visiting. Pieces of a fresh Garden Snail shell hinted at a Song Thrush having been about.