Thick fog welcomed my patrol, barely able to see the hedge ahead of me. However it gave me the chance to listen to the calling and song of a Great Tit which was churring loudly from the patch of Old Man’s Beard and Madder which was rambling over the top of the Blackthorn. The bright yellow chest of the Great Tit broken by the black waistcoat markings.
The chirr of a Blue Tit added to the noises heard, the blue head occasionally visible in the murky light.
From the air came tow female Pheasants, these large mottled brown birds suddenly appearing from the fog to land amongst the grass of the meadow, only their heads visible as they strutted along.
As I headed to the coast path the fog was beginning to lift over the sea, the sky turning blue as I watched. The Great Black-backed Gulls gliding past, calling loudly as they went were heading east while a flock of Herring Gulls and a couple of Common Gulls were going west.
My choice of the coast path to walk was a fact finding exercise to look at the terrain – which is extremely muddy, the walk therefore taking much longer. This is an issue all along the coast at present so if walking, do take this into account!
Growing across the stone bridge the mass of Ivy leaves are covered in flowers and berries, one of the later flowering species producing one of the later berries. Scattered in the woods the bright pink double berries of European Spindle, while low to the ground the orange berries of Stinking Iris catch the eye.
A few flowers to spot including the almond smelling Winter Heliotrope, the coconut smelling Gorse and the gentle smell of Sweet Violet. Ivy-leaved Toadflax growing along one of the walls alongside Herb Robert.
If you are visiting today, the Castle is open as normal, but the café will be closed so that the kitchen floor can be replaced and will re-open on the 16th. Please bear with us – tea and coffee, sandwiches and cakes are available in the meantime.