Another damp morning patrol, the rain dropping straight down in large droplets, some going straight down the neck the others landing on the binocular eye piece!
Off down path to the lighthouse I spotted a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle trundling ahead of me, soon followed by a second this a larger footed male.
The majority of the other insects sheltering deep in the undergrowth except for a Meadow Brown butterfly which sat forlornly on a piece of rock.
Last night’s Moth Trap however produced a good variety including Elephant Hawkmoth, Dark Sword Grass, Drinker, Four-spotted Footman, Whitepoint, Dark Specatacle and one of my favourite named the Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing.
From the wires across the gully came the cooing of a Wood Pigeon, this wet and bedraggled bird fluffed up against the weather, as I scanned a Green Woodpecker was noted erect of the telegraph pole.
The cliff flowers still blooming well with the bright yellow of the Golden Samphire taking pride of place, the paler green colour of the Rock Samphire and the dashes of pink from the Thrift adding more variety. On the cliff edge some of the colony of Rock Sea Lavender is still in flower, such an elegant flower-head.
The sound of a Stonechat drew my attention as this small bird ‘chatted’ away from the tops of the Bramble scrub. The orange breast and dark head a little worn, while alongside a couple of youngsters showing off a successful breeding season.
Passing at sea was a Shag skimming just above the flat water, while a little further out the sight of a Gannet, by the brown wings colouration last year’s young. A little later a glorious brilliant white adult soared eastwards.
Through the woodland the calling of a Chiffchaff was accompanied by the alarm rattle of a Wren and the quick glimpse of the white wing bars of a Chaffinch. As I emerged into the open a few Sand Martins were flying overhead while Common Whitethroat and Willow Warbler were both perched in amongst the sloe berry laden branches of the Blackthorn.