It is the day before Christmas and all over the park barely a creature was stirring not even the bark of a dog to be heard.
As the sun rose this morning the cloud was producing a wonderful variety of pinks across the clouds which were covering the sky. Some of the edges of this grey blanket etched in colour.
Starting the patrol by the car parks saw the effect of last night’s human activity with fast food wrappers and cans strewn across the tarmac, so a bit of time spent clearing up. Whilst doing this a Robin was watching my every move, popping down from the Bramble every now and then to see if I had uncovered any tasty worms or other snippets for breakfast.
A Green Woodpecker took off from Long Meadow the bright yellow rump and green body making it unmistakable, even without the noisy ‘yaffling’ cackle it made on tale off.
Into the woods where a flock of Long-tailed Tits were twittering as they moved through the branches of the Snowberry (only one berry left on this patch), Hazel and Privet. Watching the antics of this group of birds is always a joy as they dangle and flit landing on the thinnest branches as they search for food.
Down towards the cliffs and the definite smell of a Fox was picked up by my nose, a pungent odour coming from the Stinking Iris. Very little activity at sea, as I scanned across the expanse of grey a single Shag was spotted relatively close in while further out was a Diver – which species I really couldn’t tell at that distance and in the dull light.
On the cliff ledges, 3 Guillemots were standing upright, one of these was still in its white headed ‘winter’ plumage.
Returning back across the fields some fine examples of Field Blewitt fungi, while the scrub produced Jelly Ear, King Alfred’s Cakes and some Dead Man’s Fingers.