Upon my first couple of steps at the Bungalow I was immediately greeted with the silhouettes of two Peregrines as they soared above the learning centre. The fairly strong winds quickly saw these birds glide off with extreme ease to roam the park grounds without expending too much energy. A loud laughing exploding from the woodland gave away the presence of a Green Woodpecker. A familiar sound of winter reached my ears as a Robin sang in the Bramble to my right. It may have been singing for some time already as these birds willingly sing into the hours of darkness and the early dawn. On the horizon a brilliant golden sun was emerging and lighting up the few clouds in front. Also taking advantage of the wind were some Great-Black Backed Gulls who almost stayed motionless within the air as they rose higher and higher into the sky.
From the Wildlife Area, a Bullfinch cheeped amongst the Blackthorn, there appeared to be at least a couple of these birds as they were contacting each other through the scrub. Walking past the learning centre and through the Hawthorn a Chaffinch started singing, the orange and grey confirming it as the male bird, with the brown female in an opposite bush. A chittering overhead caused me to look up and see six Goldfinches flying overhead before circling around and back to the Wildlife Area. Along the hedgerow two Magpies perched, fluffed up from the cold breeze.
Walking through the woodlands, a family of Blue Tits were foraging through the canopy. One member of the group was isolated amongst the Sycamore and was constantly chirping to reassure the others that it was still in the vicinity. A Great Tit also made itself present using one of its many vocalisations as it advanced through the winter woodland.
Approaching the castle, I noticed another group of Blue Tits in some lowdown foliage, two of them seemed to engage in a wrestling match, tumbling into the leaf litter before resolving their dispute. Amongst the leaf litter a male Blackbird flicked leaves aside attempting to find any source of food. Another bit of movement caught my eye and made me aware of a skulking Dunnock in the undergrowth.
Walking around the castle there was more activity with a Jay taking flight once my presence became clear and a Wren hopping through the bushes, its rapid-fire alarm call being demonstrated very well this morning.
Upon reaching the cliffside, a brisk wind hit me, chilling my hands. The seabirds however were revelling in the conditions. 3 Fulmars soared and glided around the cliffs and a pair of Shags sat upon the water. The most numerous group by far however was the vast numbers of Guillemots flying to and from the cliffs, the ledge itself was crammed with birds, one lone Herring Gull occupying a significant space between the auks. On the water 80 more Guillemots sat with 6 Razorbills blending in amongst the flock.