The moon was showing white against the blue sky in the west, while to the east the sun was a glorious yellow orb. Against which a small flock of Jackdaws were silhouetted as they flew past me.
Near the Observation Point I was able to stand and watch a Kestrel, such a wonderful opportunity to enjoy this beautifully chestnut coloured bird, the head a pale grey. First this male landed gently on the branch of a Holm Oak and peered down, watching me watching him, he then took a short flight through the trees splaying out the tail before landing in the top of a Tamarisk tree before disappearing over the cliff edge.
On the water a scattering of black and white Guillemots, those still in winter non-breeding plumage looking quite different to the ones who have now moulted completely with chocolate brown heads.
As I walked along the path the growling sound of more Guillemots could be heard and looking back the ledge was choc-a-block with them all jostling for space.
Ahead of me the flitting of another black and white bird caught my attention, the long tail of the Pied Wagtails bobbing up and down as it walked along the rocks.
Soon a flash of red went through my view, and a Black Redstart was spied perched on the edge. A very smart looking male, charcoal black with white flashes on its wings as well as a fiery red tail.
Returning towards the Castle the edges are coloured by splashes of bright orange as the pods of the Stinking Iris have burst into three sections.
Alongside, some red berries of Cotoneaster, providing a late autumn meal for many of the winter migrant birds, while the Ivy flowers are still attracting insects including Common Wasp, Buff-tailed Bumble bees and a variety of Flies.
Browsing on the Blackthorn was a Roe Deer, only spotted because the bush moved as I looked!