In our wildlife garden pond it was curious seeing five Smooth Newts possibly eating, if not just investigating, the Frog Spawn. In total there were at least a score of these amphibians in the pond. Two Tree Sparrows and a Greenfinch were seen perched in branch tips.
I had a duo of trios today! The first being three Ravens which headed towards the castle, with the front two being closer and the third following, although all were calling at times. Similarly I initially saw two Adders at Tilly Whim steps. One was positioned in an upturned “U” shape whilst the second slithered up slope towards it to within 30 cm. When I returned a third Adder had positioned itself crossing over the second. The sun made their scales glisten.
A splendid raft of some fifty Guillemots persisted despite a choppy sea. More of these sea birds chose to pack themselves at the edge of the cave ledge, like Mussels or Barnacles! Below I was lucky to see two Shag upon a waterside ledge which itself was as black as the birds.
Below the lighthouse on the open gully slope a male Stonechat ventured between scrub and grassland. On the opposite gully slope a pair of Long Tailed Tits flew between the bushes. In so many locations Great Tits and Blue Tits were seen and heard. One Robin chased another out of its territory and elsewhere I saw a Dunnock in song. One Solitary Bee sat in the sun the gully rock escarpment. Some thirty Jackdaws congregated over the coastal slopes, but occasionally I saw an individual one transport twigs.
I believe it was a Redpoll that diverted my attention before my venturing up slope to the meadows. In the wind the dry Tor Grass blades whispered. It was my hope to see a pair of Skylarks, as I had yesterday, but it was not to be. However, a Kestrel flew at dry stone wall height along the eastern boundary of South Field. It perched only 2 metres above ground in a Hawthorn, but not long enough for me to study it! Elders were opening their first leaves of the year in several locations, ahead of other deciduous trees and shrubs