Walking down the lighthouse road the sound of a Skylark was ringing in my ears, this beautiful sound and sight was accompanied by a hovering Kestrel whose chestnut back was catching the light.
Continuing down the hill, rain began, sending the family of Stonechats scattering for cover, but the constant ‘chatting’ still to be heard even though they were deep amongst the rambling tendrils of the Old Man’s Beard.
Flowers galore with the display of Bird’s-foot Trefoil along the banks combining with the Horseshoe Vetch and Kidney Vetch to provide a mass of yellow. This is echoed in the meadows by a smothering of Rough Hawkbit interspersed by the pink Sainfoin and the white Ox-eye Daisy.
From a vantage point near the gully I was able to watch the fledged chicks of Linnets, Common Whitethroats and of Lesser Whitethroats, as well as Great Tits, Blue Tits and Goldfinches. The adults of all of these were also visible, the male Linnet showing its pink chest and the male Stonechat stunning in black, orange and white wing flashes as it perched on the Teasel stem.
The view of the adult Lesser Whitethroat was perhaps the standout feature with the very smart grey head easily seen on what is usually a difficult to spot warbler.
By the cliffs once again a juvenile Gannet was plunge diving to catch fish, this almost completely brown bird was looking particularly huge when compared with the Sandwich Terns and Kittiwake flying nearby.
On the water below the main seabird colony were about 40 Guillemots and more surprisingly 11 Razorbills – hopefully just having a break from parenting duties.
Fulmars and Shags also flying around as was a Great Black-backed Gull, leaving its ledge where it has 2 grey and black-spotted chicks.
As I returned from the cliffs a female Roe Deer stood and watched me before trotting into the deep Blackthorn and Gorse scrub