Yesterday we reopened part of the cliff top coast path. Whilst a dead end walk it enabled views of the cliff nesting sea bird colony. Today a good sixty plus birds were rafted upon the sea. Amongst them were at least five Razorbills
the rest being Guillemots. The birds were both preening, socialising and occasional diving for fish. The later activity might have explained why one Greater Black Back Gull kept flying west only to call and turn back over the raft of seabirds. Amongst there Guillemots were several juvenile with whites faces / cheeks. At least two Fulmars were performing arcing flight almost as if they bounced off the sea cliffs. A Peregrine Falcon was upon a frequent Greater Black Back Gull perch half way up the cliff face near the seabird cave / ledge. The predator faced west and watched the flotilla of birds upon the sea.
Yesterday, brought this year’s second sighting of an Adder out above Tilly Whim steps. Today, I was delighted to see two Blackthorn blossom flowers out in the shady cavity that was Tilly Whim steps. Other blossom out was the beginnings of the Cherry Plum blossom beside Lighthouse Road below the climber’s car park. I admired a stem of Yellow Wort with its conjoined leaves beside the coast path. One Stinking Iris flower was part open below an overhang of Tamarisk. The fresh leaves of Cleavers, Bristly Ox Tongue, Plantain and Arum were visible. Cliffside Wild Madder showed fresh, fleshy light green leaves and stem protruding ahead of the firmer and darker growth. Dwarf Mallow leaves were also path side.
Down at the gully mouth I heard a male Stonechat call out from the scrub. The wind had been heard wailing through both the measured mile markers and overhead wires. A Chaffinch song rang out from Lighthouse road bridge whilst one of the Herford cattle snapped a branch. The bovine was seen bending a Blackthorn stem so to reach the green leaves of the Ivy resident within it. Two Magpies and five Carrion Crows rose up from amongst the cattle near the bridge. Some forty Jackdaws appeared in the sky some of which went to occupy the Lighthouse complex. From scrub beside the wares / South Field water trough a Song Thrush was performing snippets of what will eventually become a longer repertoire.