I headed for the Large Copse meeting only Robins and Blackbirds on the way, although I heard Carrion Crows, Jackdaws, Green Woodpeckers and distant Herring Gulls. I noticed vivid Ash buds living up to their name. As I entered the Copse I inevitably sent a Wood Pigeon to flight from the evergreen cover. A carpet of Winter Hellebore leaves showed no flowers here, although outside of the canopy of the Small Copse I counted some four stems exhibiting these simple flowers.
Looking out to sea there were superb views of all the Isle of Wight. It was interesting to see the Needles Lighthouse in action whilst our own Anvil Point was dormant. Both the Condor ferry and a well loaded container vessel headed west for distant shores.
Eventually the vocal Green Woodpecker was observed, briefly, just above the Quarr. From the upper most mile marker post a Raven called eventually to be joined by its mate who took flight off to the cliff top. From the Quarr I just made out a “cloud” of Guillemots flying low and out to sea near the gully mouth. Down on the open grassland one Rabbit put in an appearance, whilst further inland a score of Jackdaws occupied my “Peregrine Ledge” rock out crop. They were active picking away at the turf between rocks. Another pair of Jackdaws blended in with the black chimney pots and stacks of the Lighthouse Cottages.
Again at sea Cormorants were active in flight whilst one headed west, three headed east! Some eighty Guillemots huddled and conversed upon their ledge with one Herring Gull as company!
Recently there had been small mammal burrows beneath the “Ron’s Rest” bench and the Dolphin Watchers’ hut. Someone may be lucky enough to spot said mammal which might be a Stoat or Weasel.
Walking through the “Goat Plot” wood, a Box stem was a comparable size to my thigh! Plenty of Great Tit activity greeted me as I arrived just in time to the weather station!