A still start to the day, with not even a breath of wind, though a blurry streak of pink gold sky above the sea adds colour to a dull morning with hints of more sunshine to come.
The still conditions are brilliant for birds, who are making the most of the weather to feed up. Along Long Meadow, a Jay bursts, cackling out of the bushes, his brilliant blue wing feathers gleaming in the low morning sun.
Further up the path, a Green Woodpecker bobs by, his ‘yaffle’ ringing out through the still air, with the harsh ‘cronk’ of a Raven heard as he passes above the woodland.
A red-breasted Bullfinch sits among the delicate tracery of Silver Birch branches at the top of the meadow, with Blue and Great Tits weaving their way among the branches below.
Down on Caravan Terrace, Wren, Robin and Song Thrush seen, with a noisy, argumentative family of Long-tailed Tits whirring from bush to bush below the bridge.
Not much passing through overhead, although the thin calls of Redwing heard from high overhead, as the mist cleared first thing and a Pied Wagtail seen near the Castle.
A lovely walk along the clifftop, with the morning sun sparkling on a gently lapping sea. A Gannet passes by, way out in the distance, though it’s huge size and brilliant white feathers making it instantly recognisable.
A small squadron of Auks – to far out to be sure of the species also passing the cliffs, with Shag, Cormorant, Oystercatcher and Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull also seen.
A Kestrel hangs in the air above the meadows, so still it is as if she has been painted onto the sky, with a Peregrine Falcon near Tilly Whim and a brief glimpse of a Sparrowhawk, hurtling along just below the top of a hedgerow in the Lighthouse Field.