Another dull grey morning with just one single gap in the cloud cover showing the blue sky behind. Out across the water the dark grey skies was crossed by a brilliant white Gannet followed by a few Greater Black-backed Gulls and some Herring Gulls.
By the cliff edge a Rock Pipit was in flight, then landed on the top of the engraved rock that reads ‘Look Round and Read Great Nature’s Open Book’. Fairly easy to read in this morning’s early light. Taking flight as I once again read this engraving was a flock of Feral Pigeons a mass flutter of wings as they moved.
The twittering of a flock of Long-tailed Tits stopped me in my tracks, these birds are always worth watching as they flit between bushes, hang upside down and hop from branch to branch. The pale pink, black, whites and grey feathers showing up well. To me, the long tails sometimes give the impression of being a hindrance as they try to balance and squeeze through small openings in the scrub.
From low in the Tor Grass a tiny brown Wren emerged, the wings rapidly whirring as this stocky bird flew into the rambling pile of Old Man’s Beard.
Flying overhead a charm of 12 Goldfinches called, a noise that sounds like tinkling bells, as this flock dropped into the top of a Hawthorn bush the gorgeous gold flashes on their wings could be seen as could the red facial markings.
To the lighthouse field to check the Hereford cattle are content, which they seemed to be, both water troughs working and lots of grass to munch on.
Returning towards the Centre, a Jay flew across my path, the large white rump disappearing into the clump of Holm Oaks where another Jay was to be seen, the lovely blue flashes on the wings and the pale pink body making this a spectacular bird, as is, on close inspection their close relative the Magpie very smart in its black, white, green and blue.
The alarm call of a Blackbird and the steady ticking of a Robin some of the other sounds of the early patrol.