As I unlocked the office door a pair of Roe Deer wandered slowly past, their fur looking tatty as they are in the process of moulting, while from the Sycamore came the ‘wheezing’ of a Greenfinch.
To the cliffs where the Guillemots were stuffed onto the ledge, with a constant movement as they came and went, many more on the water with 6 Razorbills spotted amongst them. The growling of the Guillemots was interrupted by the cackling of Fulmars and cronk of a Shag.
As I admired a Rock Pipit displaying – flying up and then floating down – a loud piping call came for the water, this an Oystercatcher announcing it’s position as it flew past, the striking black and white colouration contrasting with the orange beak.
Patches of pink Thrift and those of Sea Campion along the clifftops along with Danish Scurvy Grass and a few of the yellow flowered Wild Cabbage.
Along the coast path some of the numerous dirty white webs on the Blackthorn are coming to life as the Brown Tail moth caterpillars continue to grow – beware of these hairy beasts as their hairs are very irritating.
On the downs a small area was covered in orchids with over 80 Early Spider and 80 Green-winged Orchids counted without me moving, looks to be a good year for these exotic plants. The third orchid – the Early Purple also showing well, the colour varying from pale pink and white or a really deep, almost cerise, pink.
Overhead a Swallow swooped in, while a Kestrel was hovering perhaps hoping to find the family of Shrews that were squeaking nearby.
Perched atop the bright yellow flowering Gorse, were Common Whitethroats, this rattling song suddenly filling the air, but Linnets, Stonechat, Bullfinch and Chaffinch adding to the chorus. Two Lesser Whitethroats also heard from the depths of the scrub, while Skylarks sung from above and Dunnock and Great Tits chatted from the newly leaf covered Hawthorn and Horse Chestnut.
Slithering through the grasses was a small Slowworm, the coppery silver colour of this legless lizard catching the eye.
Later reports : 2 Seals (probably Grey), 1 Little Egret.