As my early patrol began a Green Woodpecker erupted from the long grass just beside me, the bright yellow rump showing superbly as it flew, the undulating up and down flight pattern so distinctive.
Around the corner a few moments were spent watching a Kestrel as it landed on the ground, prodded an Earthworm with its foot and then with its beak before grabbing and swallowing the worm in one mouthful.
Across the meadows a good view of a female Roe Deer as she browsed on the hedgerow, her white powder puff tuft on the rump standing out very brightly.
The meadows are now getting to have a pale yellow hue as the Cowslips start to blanket the ground, still only short and mostly not quite out yet, another few days and some sunshine and they’ll be magnificent.
Along some of the banks the Primroses are superb, a glorious splash of yellow, the late cold snap of weather must have suited them, surrounding them in places was a display of Common Dog Violets, the deep purple catching my eye.
Down on the cliffs the Guillemots were packed on their ledge, well over one hundred of these black and white auks crammed together, the sound of their chatter wafting up the cliff face. On the water a scattering more of the Guillemots and 2 Razorbills
Zooming around the rocks, in their usual spectacular fashion were Fulmars, 5 drifting in and out with another tucked on a tiny ledge chuckling as they flew by.
From overhead the high pitched calling of a small group of Meadow Pipits could be heard, as could the tinkling of Goldfinches, this flock then landed amongst the Gorse, the gold of the bird and that of the flowers very similar.
Along the coast path, look out for the webs of the Brown-tailed Moth, full of tiny orange spotted caterpillar, they may find they are too far ahead of themselves this year as the Blackthorn they are on is bereft of leaves so little for the caterpillars to eat – don’t touch these creatures as they have very irritating hairs.