A wet and windy start to the morning, with a south-westerly winding gusting over 40 miles per hour, whipping the sea into a lacework of white foam, beneath a leaden sky.
At Tilly Whim waves explode against the cliffs, send spray high into the air. On the clifftop, a pair of Rock Pipits flutter and tumble in the breeze, like small grey leaves in the wind.
Down below, a Shag flaps ponderously by, battling the wind, not far above the breakers, with a few Gannets – gleaming white on a grey morning – further out to sea. 5 Scoter also passing out in the distance.
Near the Observation Point, a Peregrine swoops in to perch for a moment on the cliff edge, before diving back into the air.
In the woods, Sycamore, Willow, Horse Chestnut and London Plane leaves, in shades of orange, green and gold tumble along the paths, while Ash trees are hung with bunches of brown “keys”.
A Grey Squirrel, so intent upon the feast of fallen acorns on the path, waits until I am just a few paces away before scampering off and up an overhanging Holm Oak.
A Dunnock picks its way around the edge of the Aviary Glade, turning over fallen leaves, with Jays, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds all feeding around the sheltered woodland floor.
Near the Globe, a pair of Swallows battle the gusts, twisting and rolling through the air – looks like hard work this morning!
A few splashes of colour among the grassland, with Bristly Ox-tongue, Ragwort, Yarrow, Wild Parnsip and Knapweed among the taller plants still in bloom.
Closer to the ground, the pink flowers of Wild Thyme can still be found, carpeting anthills.