Upon arrival the reliable Carrion Crows were seen upon the grasslands seeking out soil or surface dwelling mini-beasts. Where scrub had been cleared beside the car park Thistle basal rosettes had already moved in. This triggered my going to look for signs of Early Spider Orchids. I was rewarded by finding several fresh basal rosettes upon the thin soils of Lighthouse Green.
It was blustery out upon the wares such that the wind resisted my progress. Happily, a Shag rode the swell off the gully mouth. The bird dove from the surface amongst the white foam. Into the shelter of the gully mouth’s steep sided ravine I explored. Further up, not surprisingly, there was nothing under reptile sheet (refugia) number two, no even insects. On my journey there had been signs of fresh Privet, Elder and Bramble growth. Only the gully Yew, Holly and climbing Ivy provided cover for birds. Despite that fact the birds were not easy to find! However, a Kestrel appeared from near a Sycamore tree. Later I was to see it battling against the wind as the I tried to fly up gully beneath the overhead wires. Said wires vibrated in the wind. Meanwhile, a Great Black Backed Gull coped more successfully with flight across the gully mouth.
Fluffy catkins were beginning to emerge upon the gully’s Goat Willow trees. Amongst the tree cover I was finally rewarded by the sight of a Bullfinch pair exploring together. A Chaffinch was only heard calling out yet a trio of three Great Tits were observed together. Cherry / Marble Galls were as ever present on an English Oak.
Today I discovered two type of wind deposited items. In the gully there were roof tiles that must at some point come the Lighthouse complex rooftops. Whilst upon the green thick, slimy belts of Sea Kelp had been deposited. Some still freshly green and other pieces having turned white.
Near the Lighthouse southernmost perimeter corner tiny white flowers of Sea Beet began to open. At most a dozen Jackdaws appeared together this morning.