Different again today with a chilly northwest wind and only faint sunshine, however a superb view of a male Roe Deer as it stood in the ‘Dell’ its golden chestnut fur showing it up against the dull brown background.
A wonderful selection of flowers to enjoy along the cliff tops, with the gorgeous pink Thrift all across the rock face, splashes of white Bladder Campion, deep pink Common Mallow and Red Valerian and the yellows of Smooth Sow Thistle, Bird’s-foot Trefoil and Horseshoe Vetch.
The pale lilac Stinking Iris in bloom as is the dark purple Bittersweet and the pink and white umbels of Wild Carrot. Patches of Wall Barley, Sea Beet were dripping with Cuckoo Spit.
From the water below came a constant splashing as the Guillemots were turning over and over washing themselves after spending time incubating the eggs on the ledges. Their first chicks have now hatched visible through the cliff camera.
Amongst this throng was a couple of much darker Razorbills a couple of Shags and a Great Black-backed Gull.
The sound and sight of a Rock Pipit distracted me from watching a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle larvae which was clambering along a Cleavers stem, this fat deep green lump moving on its tiny feet.
The gorgeous song of a Song Thrush was competing for the air waves with that of Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren and Dunnock while a Common Whitethroat dipped in and out.
As I searched in vain for some Gentians, I did however spot a selection of other plants, from Wild Thyme, Eyebright, Glaucous Sedge, Chalk Milkwort, Cinquefoil, Common Mouse-ear, Germander Speedwell while pride of place had to go to the Bee Orchids, mostly still in bud, but a few showing their lovely pale pink flowers.
Across the meadows a female Roe Deer was spotted her head and shoulders above the waft of Pale Flax, while the ears of her young fawn could just be seen twitching behind her.