A mild, still morning, with mist smudging the dark silhouettes of trees and the sea a soft rumble, rather than the roar of the last few days.
A growing chorus of birdsong welcomes the approaching spring, with the songs and calls of Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin and Dunnock all heard around the Car Parks
Overhead, the sharp ‘yaps’ of Jackdaws and leisurely ‘cronk’-ing of Ravens accompanies the gentle coo-ing of Wood Pigeons.
Leaves in the woodland glitter with water, with and a shower of raindrops tumbles to the woodland floor, with the rattle of a Grey Squirrel charging through the branches above us.
Underfoot, fresh green leaves are starting to appear. The bright green leaves of Cleavers tangle around the woodland floor, where the distinctive arrowhead leaves of Lords and Ladies are pushing through the leaf litter, along with the broad, glossy leaves of Hartstongue Fern, the delicate, lacy leaves of Herb Robert, tiny heart-shaped leaves of Dog Violet and the spikes of Three-cornered Leek and Snowdrop.
A nice patch of shiny green Butchers Broom, with the spiny ‘leaves’ showing the first signs of tiny red berries, each growing from it’s centre.
At the edge of the Aviary Glade, a large patch of Spring Crocus, almost ready to burst it’s buds, while nearby, Hazel is draped with elegant catkins.
In the top branches of a Sycamore, a Great-spotted Woodpecker drums insistently, eventually spotted (!), among a patch of Ivy, rewarding us with a glimpse of his handsome crimson, black and white plumage.
Katie took a stroll along the cliffs, where 11 Razorbills were seen on the water along with Guillemots and Fulmars.