After last night’s ‘biggest’ moon since the mid 1940’s which here (as in many places) was unfortunately covered by thick cloud, the dawn started beautifully with low sunshine, but soon overtaken by thick dull cloud!
As I stood on the Diagonal Path binoculars at the ready, the constant high pitched calling of Goldcrests was most annoying, as despite being so close, actually seeing these tiny birds amongst the tumbling ropes of Old Man’s Beard and prickly Gorse bushes was proving impossible. A quick glimpse of a bird as it moved was all I could make out for some time until eventually 2 Goldcrests perched still and in view allowing me to finally admire their fantastic bright gold head stripe. As I watched a Wren and a Great Tit also came into view.
On the cliffs about 60 or so Guillemots were perched on the ledges, most of them still in their non-breeding plumage, their white faces look much longer than in their brown breeding plumage.
Flying past, heading towards the Isle of White, were 2 Cormorants while on the water 3 Shags were bobbing.
A quick flash of red, caught out of the corner of my eye, as it disappeared over the wall of Tilly Whim was a Black Redstart. Trying to get a second better view took a while, the grey backed bird blending in very well with the rocks! The movements of 5 Rock Pipits made finding the Black Redstart again more difficult.
The croak of Ravens made me look upwards to these huge black corvids flying overhead, while across the sky a Kestrel floated them stopped to hover above the rough Tor Grass.
From the Bramble bush came a ‘churr’ where on close inspection a Fieldfare was spotted, grey patches showing well. Taking flight, the wings buzzing quickly, was a Stonechat, the white wing flashes catching the eye.
Trotting in front of me was a Fox, the long tail with a large white tip disappearing into the scrub.