Spent a little while this morning and last night searching expectantly for the first Guillemot chicks on the ledge – which are now due – but not yet discovered, nature can be so irritating! This was via the camera link in the office, so down the cliff tops themselves where the sound of the Guillemots growling and the strong pungent smell was wafting upwards.
Two Rock Pipits jumping off the rockface, waiting a few moments before opening their wings – a bit like a parachute – always fascinating to watch the activity going on.
Fluttering in the strong wind was a Small Heath butterfly and on the downs a Common Blue, however in the sheltered areas of the meadows it was Small Blues galore, the grey, silver and brown flickering in the sunlight, very difficult to find the blue until they settled, in this case of the stems of grass and Bracken.
The field was covered in the dark pink of Sainfoin mixing with the white of Ox-Eye Daisies, with a scattering of Pale Flax (a light blue) and a variety of yellows. Bulbous Buttercup, competing with Hay Rattle and dotted about clumps of Bird’s foot Trefoil and patches of Kidney Vetch.
Along the Elderflower and Hawthorn covered hedgerow, a Blackcap was moving, the black crown popping up between the leaves, a Chiffchaff was also present, its monotonous call the first indication followed by the sight of this pale greenish bird.
A large patch of Herb Robert caught my eye as a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle walked along the stem, weighing if down dramatically.
Up on the downs the herd of Hereford Cows and their young calves lay amongst the grasses, whilst a Roe Deer did much the same, just it ears showing above the waving stems.
The silent soft flight of a Jay was in marked contrast to the sudden squawking and flapping of a male Pheasant, and in the distance a Green Woodpecker ‘yaffled’