The first Jay was disturbed on the approach road and then another amongst the Ant hills beside the Centre. Admittedly a Magpie set up from the ground before the Jay so whom disturbed whom?
A visit into the wildlife garden was rewarded, after walking a circuit of the pond, by counting fifteen Smooth Newts in the water at last! Two Water Beetles also flitted on or under the water’s surface. A Robin perched upon what looked like a bird feeding table placed by the Bird Ringers. However, I suspected it to have been a human or equipment resting post of sorts. Above the Lighthouse complex the dozen Jackdaws moved in unsettled flight although a pair at least took rest upon the weather vane.
Off the gully mouth flying west low over the sea were fifteen Gannets. They flew almost Goose-like albeit in a most sharply pointed triangular formation. Several small groups of Guillemots were seen heading away from the cliffs. However, the cliff cave ledge still had good occupancy whilst sixteen Razorbills lingered at the fringe of the Guillemot raft, which itself was a good fifty strong.
Eventually four Fulmars were observed in flight close to the sea cliffs. Only one Shag heading east put in appearance this morning. As I visually searched Tilly Whim Ledge a contented bunch of Rock Doves perched just below the coast path. Off course it was a dozen Racing Pigeon that later flew past a t speed.
Both Blue Tits and Great Tits were most obvious visually and vocally today especially when they investigated the buds of leafless trees. Chaffinches were seen and heard singing tunefully.
As I admired the work taking place alongside the diagonal path one Carrion Crow called from the upper Mile Marker. Shortly another pair took up the lowest marker as a perch. Back at the Centre a trio of House Sparrows perched in the Blackthorn. One of the Sparrows ventured into the corner of the roof / guttering where a pair nested last year.