With the sun shielded by thick clouds the morning dawned dark and gloomy with a damp drizzle falling.
Despite this it was lovely to be able to wander the National Nature Reserve where the Hereford Cattle are grazing in the back meadows, flying up from around their hooves were a flock of Meadow Pipits, the twittering as they took off quite easily heard in the silence of the day.
The squawk of a Jay alerted me to this colourful bird perched amongst the bare leaved Elder bush the blue and white flashes showing.
Moving onto a Hawthorn tree was a Ring Ouzel, this black winter thrush slightly silvery in look on the wings and a pale throat marking, just wonderful to watch.
Down to Tilly Whim and the coast path and a flash of red caught my eye, sitting on the wall was a Black Redstart, the tail flitting up and down before it took flight over the edge.
The wonderful sound of Guillemots growling from their ledge added to the enjoyment of the walk, most of these still in their non-breeding plumage of white faces.
On the water a line of Shags, including some of this year’s chicks, and dashing across the sky a Peregrine Falcon.
Last night produced a good selection of moths in the traps, including the Oak Rustic, which has now a good population here and the Flame Brocade (see Moth of the Day in the Castle) which used to be a very rare migrant but is now likely to be breeding in the area.
Other species included Rusty Dot Pearl, Delicate, Feathered Brindle, Beaded Chestnut, Barred Sallow, Green Brindled Crescent and numerous very smart Black Rustics.
The fluffy pinky-white Tamarisk ends attracting Goldcrests and there was also a Firecrest in the Holm Oaks.
A few Gorse flowers, Yarrow and the bright orange berries of Stinking Iris adding more colour.