What an amazing morning out on the National Nature Reserve, the fog providing a very eerie start as the occasional bush appeared at random from the gloom.
Little sound other than the mooing of the Hereford Cattle, the two herds talking to each other across the Park.
All across the grass in the meadows hundreds of Cobwebs had caught tiny water droplets, making them show against the green background – always makes me think - are there always this many cobwebs across the Park?
Flying low, hugging the Blackthorn hedgerow was a Sparrowhawk, a quick dash as it spun over the top and disappeared from my view.
The gorgeous colours of a low growing Field Maple tree provided a bright spot, with yellows, oranges and rusty browns, perched amongst the leaves a was a small flock of Goldfinches.
As my walk progressed and I headed towards the sea the sun was suddenly out to the south and the fog had disappeared, whilst to the north the bushes were still sticking out of the thick layer.
As this happened two red and white birds flew across the sky, these being Great Spotted Woodpeckers, such stunning birds to see, on closer inspection the black spots could also be seen, but it was the red underside that really caught the eye.
Down near the Lighthouse a different ‘tweet’ drew my attention to a bird perched on the top twig of a Bramble clump. Not often I have such good views of a winter Reed Bunting, the dark stripe across it eye contrasting with the pale marks above and below the eye, along with the patch in the side of its face. The rest of the bird was streaky brown with white streaks.
Around the corner a Stonechat was amongst the rambling ropes of Black Bryony and Wild Clematis.
Looking across the downs at me was a Roe Deer, the dull brown coat merging almost invisibly into the bracken and bramble backdrop.
Last night the fantastic starry sky was filled with the sounds of Tawny Owls hooting – the ‘t-wit’ being followed by the ‘t-woo’.