A quite magnificent sunset last night, all deep pinks, red and blues and a dramatic sky after the heavy rain led to a brilliant golden sunrise. As I began my early patrol the heavens opened providing me with a wet shower!
Through the camera I could see on the ledge the final Guillemot sat resolutely on its chick while a Herring Gull was standing nearby waiting for a plump tasty breakfast opportunity. Why not pop up to the Learning Centre to see this final bird before to leaves for the summer.
Elsewhere on the cliffs a young Great Black-backed Gull wandered about, its parent nearby, while a family of Shags were all preening in unison, the brown bodies of the 4 chicks in marked contrast with the green-black sheen of the adult. A few Jackdaws cackled and swept in an acrobatic display downwards as a Rock Pipit grabbed a small worm and also tumbled over the edge. Far out to sea the gleaming white wings of Gannets caught my eye as they passed eastwards.
A good selection of flowers to enjoy including the purple Black and Greater Knapweeds, the white Wild Carrot, pink Red Valerian and the yellows of Ploughman's Spikenard, Bristley Ox-tongue, Ragwort and Agrimony.
The Teasels have an unusual way of flowering with a ring of delicate flowers moving up and down the teasel head, the whole head never flowering all at once.
Sliming across the dry-stone walls were a variety of snail, Lapidary Snail, Garden Snail, Brown lipped Snail and the small spired , .
Out on the downs the wonderful sight of a Yellowhammer - so suprisingly well camouflaged that on first glance I mistook it for a clump of lichen! A Kestrel was hovering in the distance and there were bird calls from Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Bulfinch. While young Common Whitethroats and young Chiffchaffs skulked through the Honeysuckle - such strange looking flowers.