As this morning dawned a sudden and unexpected flash of lightning blasted across the sky, followed by the rumbling of thunder - the clouds were thick, low and brooding.
Off down towards the sea where a Great Black-backed Gull skimmed and sored, the black wings showing very brightly above the large white crests that were churning across the sea.
From behind me came the laughing yaffle of a Green Woodpecker, this green and yellow bird appearing as I turned, its flight so distinctive.
In the background a Grey Squirrel was scampering up the fallen Willow, which has deep fissures in the bark. Amongst the branches a Chiffchaff was spotted as it hopped about, the colouration of this bird an almost uniform pale browny-green.
A short seawatch produced not a single bird, but the strength of the wind was making it difficult to stand still, let alone hold the binoculars still. However perched on the cliffs was a flock of Feral Pigeons, browns, whites, greys and blacks making an interesting palette of colour.
The area around the white bridge in the Lighthouse field was alive with activity, with a small flock of Song Thrush moving amongst the clambering fronds of the Old Man’s Beard their speckled chests showing, every now and then a Redwing would be seen as the birds turned its head the pale eyestripe flashed.
As I scanned this area a Goldcrest popped into view, from my vantage point above the bright orange-yellow stripe on its head so easy to spot, contrasting with the black and white edging and green body. Such a tiny bird but always so active searching through the underside of leaves for a morsel of food.
Skimming through the branches a brown backed Sparrowhawk, alighting upon a branch of a Sycamore before continuing its way up and over the downland.
All the while the whistling squeak of Bullfinches could be heard, their white rumps making them easy to spot as they flew, allowing once they perched, the amazing pink chest of the male to be seen.