The sight of a Green Woodpecker was the first thing spotted this morning, the bright green body, yellow rump and red streaks around the face accompanied by its unique ‘yaffling’ call.
A quick glance in the moth trap, saw Red Twin Spot Carpet, Common Swift, Yellow Tail, Whitepoint and a big fat Fox Moth – proved what I suspected that the chilly night air and fresh breeze would limit the nights catch.
Down to the coast path to see the Guillemots, 20 or which were bobbing on the water alongside a Razorbill. The sound of their growling was wafting up from the water and from the 200 or so on the cliff – as was the smell of their fishy poo. Friday’s boat trip produced more views of these auks along with Puffin, Kittiwake, Cormorant and Shag.
Overhead the croak of a Raven as it argued with a second one, the huge black birds chasing across the sky, dwarfing the Peregrine Falcon which was hanging in the thermals.
From below the large squidgy patches of pink Thrift, came the fluty song of a Rock Pipit, the bird rising and falling as it sung.
Vetches galore as the Horseshoe Vetch carpets the downs, Kidney Vetch and Birds-foot Trefoil plus Common Vetch. Standing tall near the lighthouse are a few vibrant pink Gladiolus flowers.
My patrol was curtailed a tad as 6 cows were happily wandering along the coast path having broken out of the field after leaning on and breaking the gate post, some time spent repairing the boundary and then replacing the cattle. A few Small Blues emerged from the grass as the Herefords passed through!
While doing this a family of Stonechats were flitting from side to side of the path, perching on the tops of the Blackthorn scrub.
More flowers to spot include Bugle, Green Alkanet, Honeysuckle, Wild Carrot, Daisy, Eyebright and Wild Thyme.