What a glorious morning, sunshine shining from behind thin wispy clouds producing a golden glow across the clifftops.
As I wandered along the coast path the sea was churning and smashing against the cliff, spray washing over the caves. Looking across the water I expected not to see any auks, however as I looked more closely there they were, both Razorbills and Guillemots bobbing on the top of the swell. On the cliffs the upper ledge was stocked with birds, while the lower ledge was being drenched in water, so I would think no birds were present there.
A count of the birds on the water saw 8 Razorbills amongst 35 Guillemots, one of which was still in full winter plumage, its head white compared with the dark brown of the others summer plumage.
Up the diagonal path, where we have been clearing some of the Bramble, Blackthorn, Gorse and Clematis scrub to improve the grassland habitat, a Bullfinch was perched on the top of a yellow flowering Gorse, the bright pink chest of this male being captured by a shaft of sunlight - stunning.
Across the car parks a single Daisy was in flower, down at the Castle the Daffodils are in bloom, although they are a bit battered in the wind and after the snow of the weekend.
Through the woods a patch of pale lilac coloured Spring Crocus stand erect, ready to burst open.
Spring is definitely in the air with yellow catkins dangling from the Hazel stands, a few furry buds of pussy willow on the Willow. As I admired I spotted a small group of Goldcrests were flitting.
From the grassy glade the sound of a Green Woodpecker echoed, the this repeated by another bird further in the woods which the n took flight and undulated its way across the sky.