First one roadside Magpie was flushed from the Laurel then another two burst out from amongst an Elm stand. A Squirrel raced and weaved ahead of the car on the road.
I and a Great Black Back Gull and five Woodpigeon headed west, our path crossing on the diagonal path. A Wayfaring Tree clung onto a reasonable number of leaves below Ron’s Rest. A large puddle filled the coast path near Tilly Whim steps, due to a long pipe extending over the cliff being blocked. Rising from the sea a Peregrine Falcon briefly appeared above the coastal dry-stone wall before it dropped down out of sight again. Reliably Rock Doves clung to the angular rock face below the gully mouth steps. With low flying flight a Shag relocated to a new fishing spot upon the sea.
I ventured inland walking a Rabbit run at the edge of the steep side grassy ravine. I turned into a glade which had been colonised with Woodsage and Privet. The adjacent Holly presented fruits. As I scrambled up the Lighthouse rock face, the wail of the wind sang through the overhead wires. I suspected that the speeding bird of prey that swept low over Lighthouse Green was a Sparrow Hawk. Today a score of Jackdaws was in the bridge side Sycamore. They were silent until another joined them.
In the distance I heard much mooing amongst the Hereford Cattle. It was not unusual for them to call across the upper gully slopes, however, through the binoculars one could be seen on the wrong side of the fence. Whilst the yellow plastic “electric fence” warning signs stand out they also catch the wind and lift the wire from its post! However, this failed to explain the cows escape. The beast had three Burdock burrs upon its forehead. I managed to drive it and corner it near the sleeper bridge. I opened the field gate but doubted I could drive the bovine over the bridge. After several attempts and route clearance the animal finally went through to re-join the heard.
Outside the castle the blades of Daffodils were increasingly obvious poking up out of the soil. Yesterday, as no work was taking place, I took a peak into the aviaries. It was great to see a new footpath crossing the winterbourne a stone bridge undergoing restoration and a new sleeper bridge. Beside the woodchip path the Snowberry held fruits. Daisy flowers remained in bloom in the short turf beside the centre steps.