A damp start to the day, I was only saying yesterday how much the mud was starting to dry up! In the large copse the thick canopy of Pines were making a deep whirling sound as the wind slowly made its way through them and then whistled through the open gaps where Sycamores stood.
Walking past a newly laid hedge a Wren was happily bobbing in and out of the low cut Hawthorn and Elm. Hedge-laying is a country craft that has been practised for hundreds of years, it defines our countryside and is vitally important for wildlife. Providing a habitat, refuge, a source of food and acts as a corridor which small mammals, birds and insects can move safely through the landscape.
Spotting a Fox scurry along the lower hedge-line, I realised this was the fourth one I have seen this week. Seed heads of Knapweed and Wild Carrot are now dark in contrast to the pale cream Tor grass. A Robin was sat on a Dry-stone wall not bothered by the ever-increasing drops of rain. I stopped to watch a tiny rain drop, falling from a crimson Berry, on a Lichen covered branch, on an Ivy-covered trunk of Hawthorn.
Along Johnston meadow Teasels, Burdock, Buddleia, Rose, Elder and Blackthorn all stand parallel to the Dry-stone wall. A singular Goldfinch was darting around the deep quarry of scrub and in the meadows longer grass a Magpie and Carrion Crow rummaged around.
Approaching the Lighthouse a white face of a Hereford cow peered at me from between the scrub, sheltering from the rain and wind. The sea was roaring around Tilly Whim, and as I walked up the Coast Path a Rock Pipit was on the short grass. The sound of Guillemots drew me further along the path and as I peered over, the ledge was packed with black backs. Jackdaw, Raven, Crow and Rooks were all seen this morning.
As I walked back along the woodchip path the lovely sound of a Song Thrush sang out through the woods of shiny Bay leaves, as well as Blue-tits, Great-tits, Blackbird and a Magpie all heard along the same route.