A fantastic sight of a Kestrel as it hovered above the long grass, the head perfectly still while the wings and tail were quivering, after a while a stoop and a swoop, but it seemed to come up empty taloned. Another Kestrel, this time a young bird was perched in the top of one of the short Holm Oaks, perhaps waiting to be fed.
This damp weather means the butterflies are less inclined to fly, so spotting them required searching amongst the long grass where Meadow Browns were clinging to the stems alongside Marbled Whites. A few Gatekeepers were in flight as was a Six-spot Burnet moth. Many of their papery yellowish cocoons can be seen stuck to the grass stems.
As I peered down at the slightly pinky domed flower head of a Wild Carrot the insects using it caught my eye. The included a pair of mating Soldier Beetles, orange bodies and tips to their wings. There was also a similar type of beetle, but smaller and duller as well as two species of Hoverfly and a flower beetle, so quite a well occupied flower.
Hopping amongst the stems of the Greater Knapweed and Field Scabious were some Meadow Grasshoppers and Field Grasshoppers, while at the field edge a Dark Bush-cricket wandered, this cricket has a fat brown body and a yellow stripe in its underside.
Out to sea a few Gannets were skimming just above the waves, the brilliant white wings flashing as they tilted towards me, the bird disappearing as it tilted away. Hopefully, the many sailing boats were also enjoying the views.
A single Guillemot whirred its way out to sea, while 2 Great Black-backed Gulls looked to be acting as cliff sentries – perched gazing out to sea from great vantage points.
On the short turf Wild Thyme is providing a splash of pink, alongside the Squinancywort and Eyebright, while Small Scabious and Red Bartsia are also showing well.
Lots of yellow composite – Dandelion type – flowers to be identified including Bristley Ox-tongue – one of my least favourite flowers, Hawkweed Ox-tongue, Rough Hawkbit and Common Ragwort.