Overhead small charms of Goldfinches briefly combined and separated throughout the morning. A bounty of Holm Oak acorns had fallen, perhaps due to wind, providing something other than leaves to camouflage the timeline!
I was grateful to discover that Mr. Haines was to undertake the Visitor Observation survey. This released me to go off piste. Curiously the Valerian growing out of the Castle walls had flowers whilst, that about the Great Globe had none. Off shore a rough sea with occasional white crests managed to tempt a solo rapid wing beating Guillemot to rest upon it. Later there were a good fifty Guillemot with the cave, however, still only one loner sat upon the swell.
At the observation point a rocket like Peregrine Falcon shot up for the sea. Earlier I had observed a Shag fly east then turn a circle to head west to land upon a ledge. So after a brief period when another Peregrine rapidly ascended by the view point I assumed this was one bird upon a circuit. However, when back at the Centre Gregg pointed two Peregrine Falcons riding a thermal above goat plot, thus correcting my early conclusions.
At the Gully mouth a spurt of salty water from the blow hole sent a misty cloud of spray in land. From the cliff edge a Rock Pipit called whilst a female Stonechat perched amongst Blackthorn below the Lighthouse. A holly Bush nearby actual had berries! Holly originally was the Holy Tree apparently as the leaves represented Christ’s crown of thorns and the berries the droplets of his blood. Why an Easter associated plant was historically used to decorate Churches at Christmas baffled me!
Again, I saw Magpies acting like cattle Egret in that they rode the Herford cattle. Today two clung on about the head and ears of a cow which seemed happy with the insect extraction service provided. After their labours the birds perched upon separate overhead wires awaiting their next customers.
Two blue flowers clung onto a stem of Selfheal and a large Fox Moth Caterpillar also was on the down land. Greg and I attempted to return the solitary Hereford cow in Saxon Field to the herd upon the Wares. However, the lady concerned dove into the depth of Blackthorn perhaps relocating a hidden break in a fence.