Last night when I left a Fox was briefly seen crossing the road only to hop over the low dry stone wall and into the cover of Reservoir Copse.
Today we have been greeted by fog again. On driving in I heard the squelch of tyres on damp tarmac and the bleating of Blackbirds and the call of Robins. Upon parking I was monitored by a Carrion Crow perched on a car park notice board. I had hoped to exit the vehicle without setting the bird to flight but the Crow instead proceeded ahead of me towards the learning centre, perched on a waymark post before joining a trio of fellows perched upon the Centre roof where I they observed me.
Upon the short grass beside the centre picnic tables a Green Woodpecker soon took to undulating flight with only its wing beats being heard. Several Grey Squirrels were observed today, the pair I was not pleased to see were those beside our castle recycling bins. As you may be aware Squirrels are most capable of gnawing through wheelie bin plastic to retrieve our food waste. Unfortunately, the squirrels often also have emptied rubbish out of the bins! A pair of Blackbirds flew ahead me near the timeline at the end of which I saw two empty bird feeders. In the supposed “squirrel proof” cage I put peanuts and sunflower seeds outside. Two Blue Tits spent much time chattering in the Bramble before going for some peanuts!
The fog has had good effect upon many of the spiders’ webs today which have been “bejewelled” with water droplets! This morning’s castle flowers included as yet unidentified delicate white flowers beside Nicky Reegan’s memorial, Mexican Daisy Erigeon karvinskianu on the castle entrance wall and of course some Lavender. Recently I was made aware of the fact that the fern growing out of the old Tilly Whim Step walls was indeed Sea Spleenwort. Unlike the more familiar Maidenhair Spearwort I was surprise at how fleshy this variety’s leaves were. Also a Hawkbit flower was nearby!
Above the castle Jackdaws were heard before being seen when eventually eight left their roof top perches. Upon the coast path I glimpse one Cormorant flying off shore. From the observation point I could not see the lighthouse and I remained puzzled as to why we never hear an Anvil Point fog horn (although many of you would be relieved at that!).