A bitterly cold, grey start to the day, with a biting north-westerly wind showing that winter still has a sting in the tail.
Joined for the morning rounds this morning by resident artist Belinda Rush-Jansen, who has created the amazing ‘twiggy stags’ currently guarding the Castle, and who will be exhibiting here later in the year.
Just outside the Learning Centre a pair of Ravens ‘cronk’ noisily to each other as they circle above the Copse, with the rhythmic ‘see-sawing’ call of Great Tits, punctuated by the slightly manic ‘cackle’ of Robins and the accelerating song of Chaffinches
Blue Tits make fluttery display flights from scrub and hedges as we explore, with songs and calls from Blackbirds, Song Thrush, Wren, Jay and Green Woodpecker also heard.
Heading down to the cliffs, we are treated to a close-up fly-by by a Peregrine Falcon as zooms along just below the clifftop, giving us an excellent view of his angular grey silhouette.
Down below, Guillemots flicker in and out from the cliffs, with a raft of around 25 Razorbills (much blacker than the Guillemots) floating and growling on the water below.
Fulmars wheel and veer in tight circles, as noisy mobs of Jackdaws squabble and tumble through the air.
A Kestrel hangs almost motionless in the air as I unlock the Gallery. Hamish has just popped in to add Firecrest, Red-throated Diver, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Brent Goose to the list.