A “milky tea” coloured winterbourne flowed beneath three bridges in the Pleasure Grounds Woodland. Pools of water gathered where leaf dams formed. Fruits were observed upon a Laurel (not the Holly) and buds upon Japanese Spindle. A Yew’s branches and needles also held Sycamore leaf fall.
Back at the main car park a Roe Deer with its white rump vanish into the woodland above the diagonal path. I had to have polite words with the occupiers ticket less camper van occupying three spaces and testing its awning. It was a Magpie that cackled overhead as I progressed down the leaf coated steps to the diagonal path. Path side were the fruits of Stinking Iris and Wild Madder. From here a quartet of Guillemot were seen to fly westerly out to sea. Later some seventy were counted in the cliff face cave. A Peregrine Falcon flew east just after a flock of Racing Pigeons had passed. Most cliffside flight by Herring Gulls and Great Black Backed Gulls was in a westerly direction. One Shag was noted to have briefly arched out over the swell. No birds were seen upon the sea. At the gully mouth there was occasional light activity from the two blow holes. The electric fence line sent me around the outside of the lighthouse. This led to occasional Thrift, Sea Aster and Sea Campion flowers being seen. In addition, a deceased Common Shrew was found at the coast path edge. No Cat could have been blamed for that incident! St. Alban’s Head was visible as a silhouette amongst the grey cloud and threat of rain. A Rock Pipit called before windblown rain fell on Lighthouse Green. Short stemmed Knapweed flower still amongst the sward.
I had to fight against the wind whilst opening the field gate, beside Small Copse, to enter Saxon Field. One Carrion Crow was upon the meadow. The first of the Hereford Cattle came into site near the quarr. There appeared to be a stone serpent like sculpture upon the short grassland patch. The rest of the cattle were upon the north facing side of the field. I could see that we would soon need to move them to the gully. The predominantly Privet hedgerow of the Paddock gave welcome shelter. Under the Large Copse tree canopy Box held it evergreen leaves. Despite a carpet of Winter Heliotrope, none of the plants showed flowers. A train of forty Jackdaw departed from the Reservoir Copse. It was a treat to see Ox Eye Daisies near the Stevenson Screen.