A picture perfect cloudless blue sky hosted the glorious view of a full glowing orb of sun, which radiated with divine splendour, highlighting the white crystals of frost that touched the ground below. With not a wisp of wind to assault the senses this morning’s patrol was a joy to indulge in.
There was a distinct lack of wildlife activity, I supposed the more intelligent birds were curled up with a cup of tea and the morning paper, while the odd headstrong whippersnapper could be seen darting around the freezing sky, reminding me vividly of the school children I see walking in terrible weather with nothing more than a blazer to keep them warm. Robins and Wrens could be heard in conversation while a few Great and Blue tits, Dunnocks and Chaffinches frolicked around the bare branches of Ash.
As expected the horde of reprobates from the Crow family, Carrion, Magpie and Raven were in flight, noisily teasing a pair of rotund Wood Pigeons that took refuge amongst a Holm Oak while an acrobatic Grey Squirrel balanced from the branches contently munching on something tasty.
On my journey down to the clifftop lookout point I was flanked by a small contingent of Goldfinches that ‘chip chip chipped’ playfully in my ear as a beautifully coloured Jay eyed me suspiciously while perched upon the Castle’s bartizan. Feral pigeons quarrelled with the numerous Jackdaws and Great Black backed Gulls and Herring Gulls joined me in watching a Shag preen itself with pride on top of a craggy rock. Among the peacefully calm stretch of blue sea a rabble of Guillemots floated in a precise line, each one taking turns to dive head first into the sea in search of a succulent fish. With all this pandemonium ensuing below a Gannet soared past indifferent to the smaller bird’s activities.