What a spectacular thunder and lightning show last night, the sky being lit up amazingly as the storm took place producing loud claps of thunder and a rumbling as it rolled around.
This morning a dramatic weather change with grey skies leading to drizzle and fog, however down by the coast life goes on as usual with the water scattered with Guillemots, which are having a wash before returning to the breeding ledge where their chicks have just started to hatch – covered in black and white down.
Zooming around were the Fulmars, their long life cycle seems to leave a lot of time to just fly about! A Shag flew in towards its nest on the cliffs and a Herring Gull was still sitting tight on its eggs. While padding at sea was a group of 13 Scoter.
As I write the sound of baby Blue Tits just outside my window is constant, the 7 chicks are near fledging – have look on the TV at the Castle. More sound of baby birds heard as I walked the Park with a Bollard echoing to the chatting of Great Tits and from the centre of the scrub the calling of other youngsters. Meanwhile flying between the Ashes a family of Long-tailed Tits, at least 10 counted as I watched in amazement seeing this activity for the second time in 2 days.
Near the downs, the single squeak of a Bullfinch was heard, and then a white rump was watched as it disappeared towards the Blackthorn scrub. Nearby a Chiffchaff and a Chaffinch were both heard, while perched on the Gorse was a Stonechat.
A wonderful variety of flowers from the large, pale Elder flowers, delicate petals of the Orange Blossom, bright blue of the Green Alkanet, bold white of Jack-by-the-Hedge and the tiny white individual blooms of Cow Parsley.
The clifftops are covered in the pink balls of Thrift alongside Kidney Vetch, Wild Carrot and Sea Beet.
The moth trap was out last night and contained 2 gorgeous furry Pale Tussocks, Buff Ermine, Light Brocade, Spectacle, Flame Shoulder and a beautiful Shears.