A good blow is how the wind could be described this morning, as it comes in from the southwest whipping the seas up into a churning mass of grey with white crests as far as the eye could see. A fantastic sight looking out towards St Aldhem’s Head which disappeared as I watched into a covering of grey cloud to reappear a few minutes later.
Flying into this wind was a Peregrine Falcon, a few quick beats and them seemingly making no effort to continue its gliding. A little later an even better view of two Peregrines was had with one perched on a rock nobble right at the top of the cliff almost within touching distance allowing such good views that binoculars were completely unnecessary to see the yellow eye, blue area on the beak, yellow talons, stripy chest.
The other Peregrine was engaged in a chase and was seen as it flashed over my shoulder as it chased its quarry of Feral Pigeons who were tearing through the air jinking every now and then.
Across the farmland meadows at the bottom of some of the hedgerows are the brightly coloured berries of Stinking Iris, the casing having split to reveal a triangle of orange.
Elsewhere the bright red berries of Black Bryony dangles from the long ropes, and Rosehips show brightly from the thorny stems.
A twitter from amongst the Brambles drew my eyes to the perched Blackbird, followed by Great Tit, Blue Tit and Wren which was near the base dashing about.
A single Yarrow flower in bloom still on the downs where patches of Gorse are still laden with yellow petals. Out in the quarry field patches of Winter Heliotrope are in flower.
From above my head, as I walked through the Holm Oak woods, came the sounds of arguing Grey Squirrels, always amusing to watch as they scampered along the branches and twigs, leaping into mid-air as they crossed between trees.
Near the Centre a Roe Deer was standing, very difficult to see as it stood against the dull brown hedgerow. As I walked past the beady eyes watched my every move.