Well it’s a bit chilly today, so much so I had to wear two jumpers! As I started my walk, the fluting sound of Blackcaps filled the air, as I followed the sound a gathering of juvenile and adults were surrounding the Wild Rose and Blackthorn trees. The adults showing their pale grey underparts, males with distinctive ‘black caps’ and females with a chestnut brown cap, while the juvenile males also have a brown cap but not quite as vibrant. One looked like it was warming up in the morning sun, giving a prominent contrast between the grey body and its black cap. A Blue-tit dived headfirst into a patch of Hawthorn, quite entertaining and I’m not sure how it stopped intime, it flew in so fast.
The now darkening red berries from the Hawthorn tree are scattered across the limestone and woodchip paths along with Horse Chestnut, Ash and Sycamore leaves, to name a few. A beautiful bunch of Holm Oak acorns looked lovely in this morning sun. Emerging from the dark Holm Oak filled woodland the warm sun was a delight, mixed with the sound of a fierce sea and crashing waves.
Rock Pipets were fluttering around the cliff edges and as I looked out to sea a Gannet was flying quite close to the shore, its long pointed white wings with ink dipped tips, long neck, pointed beak and yellow tinged head clear to see.
Looking inland a Wheatear was perched on an exposed piece of stone, a Robin was twittering from the Gorse and above House Martins and Swallows swopped and dived through the air. 8 Wood Pigeons were perched on a Hawthorn tree in the Upper Gully, it must be a favourite spot for them as I’m sure it was the same ones as I saw on Wednesday in the same spot.
Watching the Blackcaps over the Lighthouse Road bridge one was perched precariously on some Clematis while eagerly pecking seed by seed at the Blackberries above it. I trundled up the bank as 2 Ravens made me and the Blackbird I was watching very aware of their presence, loudly bellowing across the Gully as they passed close by.