Although sunny start I enjoyed a refreshing breeze, made most evident by the branch movement of Ash, Sycamore and Holm Oak of Small Copse. From within a Song Thrush sang forth.
The breeze was such that several butterfly species were seen including: Small Blue; Speckled Wood; Skipper; Ringlet; Meadow Brown. A day flying Six Spot Burnet Moth upon a Scabious flower.
Upon seeing a single bird upon the overhead electric cables my initial thought was a bird of prey but alas it was merely a Wood Pigeon and shortly I was to saw another beneath on the telephone line.
Whilst I walked past the measured mile markers I heard a murmur seaward but saw only sailing vessels. I assumed the wind was “catching” the lower marker plates. Fishing vessel FY851 had a score of Herring Gulls about it as they fought over “bait” scraps as pots were raised and inspected. Greater Black Back Gulls joined the throng seeing off the smaller gulls. Unusually some two score Guillemots were rafted off the gully mouth whilst another one hundred were on their more usual water and another sixty within the “cave ledge”. Fulmars also put in an appearance as did one Shag.
Predominantly Yellow Flowers seen today: delicate mustard Lady’s Bedstraw; Kidney Vetch (best stand on rocky slop above gully mouth steps); Bristly Ox Tongue. Although my roadside rock outcrop still had Rest Harrow, Wild Thyme and Eyebright but it appeared that the Early English Gentian’s had finally gone over. In particular the pink petals and yellows flowers of Common Century caught my eye today. The one Bee Orchid stem below the diagonal path Tamarisk (which was in flower) was less obvious as it flower had begun to turn. Pyramidal Orchids were much more prevalent upon the downs.