This week all Ranger Diaries will be written having walked the same route as we undertake visitor observation surveys. Before me colleagues Ben and Doug both arrived to cover the 7 to 8 am slot… what enthusiasm and dedication! On my rounds I passed one walker twice! A splendid golden Orb initially appeared in a clear sky scratched by vapour trails. However, low cloud / mist came in towards the end. From somewhere within reservoir copse the grating calls of an obscured Jay were heard.
In many locations this morning at least two pairs of Chaffinches, numerous Robins, Magpies, Great Tits, Blackbirds, and Blue Tits were seen and or heard. Unusually I believe at least a dozen Carrion Crow were perched in the tree tops below castle car park. I was surprised at the number of Herring Gulls about this morning with a good dozen passing a score of Jackdaws at the observation point. Only one Fulmar was noted but both a Shag and a Cormorant were seen at the respective low and high passage over the sea. One of our occasional visitors flew past calling in the form of an Oystercatcher. My highlight was finally to observe an Adder above Tilly Whim cave gate. Admittedly I had perhaps previously been focusing upon the rocky wall, today the reptile was had its tail end in grass cover whilst its head and much of its body basked upon bare soil. Beside the diagonal path it was initially the “peeps” which made me suspect there were Long Tailed Tits amongst the Blackthorn and indeed a pair materialised. It took more patience to see one of a few Firecrests flitting amongst the leaf laden branches of a Holm Oak.
Doug shared his delight at having seen a Tree creeper in the Woodland cover. In the woodland I noted the emergence of Ramson (Wild Garlic) leaves beside the paths a catkins upon Hazel at the glade.Beside the “climbers” car park one heard a Song Thrush sing forth and then the waffle of a distant Green Woodpecker before reading the weather. Doug shared his delight at having seen a Tree creeper in the Woodland cover. Warren spotted 2 Harbour Porpoises at 8:50am from castle terrace apparently feeding before heading west.