A lovely early morning with gorgeous colours flickering on the deep blue sea, the Guillemots that were bobbing and washing on the water almost impossible to spot as the shafts of pink and grey reflected on the sea, but the birds could be heard growling noisily from below. On the ledges the Guillemots are settled, with many now sitting on eggs
Zooming into the cliff was a grey backed Peregrine Falcon, disappearing from my view, to be replaced by an emerging group of Jackdaws.
The gully area alive with the sounds of Common Whitethroats as they scratch their song from the tops of many Blackthorn, Gorse and Hawthorn bushes. The chestnut brown backs contrasting with the white throat making them easy to recognise.
Deeper in the same scrub came the more occasional rattle of the Lesser Whitethroat, who are much more difficult to see as they skulk about. The ‘chiff-chaff’ call of the Chiffchaff echoing around the reserve as was the songs of Great Tit, Chaffinch, Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Linnets and Blackcap.
Across the downland are patches of bright blue from the Chalk Milkwort carpet, in amongst these are patches of gorgeous deep yellow Horseshoe Vetch which is just beginning.
Wandering across the turf was a Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle, while on the meadows the larvae of a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle slowly made its way along the stem of Goosegrass, these are almost metallic green and are like a concertina sacks with short legs!
A great view of the Fox cubs as they explore their surroundings, only 3 spotted this morning. A female Roe Deer also seen as she lay amongst the Tor Grass only her ears spotted at first.
Further birds records included our first Pied Flycatcher and first Swifts passing over, also a Garden Warbler and a Redstart.
Still masses of Early Spider Orchids to be seen along the footpaths as well as our other two species flowering at present – Early Purple and Green-veined.