A magnificent early morning with the sun slowly rising across the sea, as the sun rose it turned the low clouds a brilliant pink.
Perched on the top of the Sycamore in Saxon Field was a male Kestrel, the chestnut back being highlighted by the sun’s rays causing this bird to also change colour.
As I waited a bit longer the Kestrel took flight and gently floated above the meadow. Below, 3 Meadow Pipits took off, their white bars catching my eye as did the loud high pitched call.
On the back fields a slight frost was detectable, causing a crunch underfoot, the individual grass leaves beautifully patterned by the ice crystals. Further inland the frost was harder and the low ground was covered in a wispy fog.
A splash of bright pink in the hedgerow was the strange shapes of the Spindle berries, while in the Hazel nearby two Chaffinches seemed to be disputing the territory, with both calling from adjoining bushes.
Some of the more exotic Victorian species are coming into their own at this time of year with Bamboo with tall white furry heads, the white berries of Snowberry, variegated leaves of the Cherry Laurel and the bright green plastic-like leaves of the Euonymus along the path edge.
A Robin was hopping along the wall, the red breast bobbing as it moved, ‘the ticking’ call of this ‘Christmassy’ bird being heard all across the park this morning.
As the colours reverted from the early pinks to the more usual blues and whites and greys a fantastic sight of a Peregrine Falcon soaring just above the cliff tops, the yellow beak and dark grey back easily spotted as it slowly passed westwards. As this speedy bird of prey banked the stocky shape turned to streamline as it began to chase an unsuspecting Feral Pigeon.