Looking out across the dull brown landscape, a flock of Carrion Crows were rising and falling on the wind – I had to check closely due to the old adage that a Rook on its own is a Crow, and a groups of Crows are Rooks, but on this occasion definitely Crows!
Elsewhere it was Jackdaws enjoying the blustery conditions, tumbling and turning acrobatically, cackling to each other as they moved across the grey sky.
The call of Goldfinches alerted me to their presence, a small charm being blown at speed across, before changing direction and landing amongst the twigs of the berry laden Hawthorn. Through the binoculars their gold flashed on the wings and red spot on their heads showed well.
Off to the cliffs to watch the churning seas, always a wonderful sight. Skimming over the top was a Shag with another bobbing on the waves.
A flash of white wing edge caught my eye and a couple of winter plumage Black-headed Gulls passed by, again low to the water. These gulls which are around all year look so different in the winter, no longer have they got their deep chocolate brown hood, instead they have gone white except for a brown dot.
On the cliffs the Guillemots were packed closely together on the ledge, another bird which looks quite different at this time of year with pale face markings.
Further out to sea the flickering movement of another small passing bird – too far out for me to identify the species.
Into the meadows where erupting from the short grass was a couple of Meadow Pipits, a noisy calling taking place as they rose. Nearby perched precariously on a water trough was a plump Wood Pigeon.
In Taskers Meadow the Hereford Cattle are grazing off the aftermaths, regrowth and remains off the hay cut, so please make sure you close the gates in the fields to keep them in the right place.
Moving slowly over the leaf of a Lesser Burdock was a Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle. As I peered down at it, the Convolvulus leaves nearby had been ravaged by a caterpillar, just the veins remaining