Another morning where the ground was sodden after the rain, just enough over the last few days to turn the meadows of the Park back into muddy soggy mess.
A walk to inspect the area of wall that are being rebuilt, saw all stages from foundations all the way through to capping – another section should be completed today by the Thursday Morning Walling Work Party.
Whilst out, the hedgerow of Blackthorn, Old Man’s Beard and Ivy was alive with the sound of Bullfinches, their ‘squeak’ piercing the air. Looking closer their brilliant pink chests were on the top of the twigs, 3 stunning males and nearby 2 slightly drabber females.
Suddenly from above a strange haunting call, the two-tone sound coming from a large black and white bird, the wings wide and long pale underneath, dark on top, and a chinstrap easily noticeable from below. Its loping flight added to the features made this a Lapwing – the first I have seen here for a while.
A Peregrine Falcon floated overhead near the cliffs where Jackdaws and Feral Pigeons were enjoying their flying ability.
Further out on the farmland a Fox trotted up and over the wall, the white tail end wafting as it disappeared into the thicket of Bramble.
The Daffodils by the Castle are almost out, yellow buds almost ready to burst while Greater Periwinkle, Winter Heliotrope and Herb Robert are all making an appearance already.
As the sun dappled through the Black Pines one shaft caught the yellow flash of a Goldcrest amongst the needles, while Blue Tits and Great Tits were calling loudly. On checking with the binoculars a Coal Tit was also spied.
Last night, in the rain, the sound of a Tawny Owl was echoing from the woodland.