As I start to write my eyes are drawn to a Blue Tit which is perched on the edge of a nesting box, just outside the window. This blue and yellow bird is dipping its head in and out of the entrance, whether inspecting for danger, interest, food or fun I don’t know. It did proceed to disappear in through the hole, its stripy little face turned outwards.
Across the meadows, after the last few days of constant dampness, fog and rain, the paths and fields are very wet, muddy and waterlogged. It was however lovely to see the weak rays of sunlight reflecting off the puddles – the first sun for days!
As not much happening inland, a walk down to the cliffs where lots of action was taking place. Two Herring Gulls had displaced the Guillemots from their ledge, the large grey and white gulls strutting up and down it preventing the black and white auks from returning, so leaving them to fly in rapid circles, a blurr of wings going round and round. Meanwhile a Fulmar glided past.
A little further out, a fantastic sight of Gannets, at least 50 of them skimming and soaring above the white crested sea. These huge white and black birds dwarfing the much more delicate Kittiwakes which were flying in the same area.
Through the binoculars, I was able to see the delicate black tips of these small gulls, which contrast with the grey back and white head. In amongst this group other species of gulls – probably Herring Gulls, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls.
Turning inland, the yellow flowers of Gorse were reflecting the sunshine, throughout the year there is nearly always flowers on this spikey plant.
Clambering across the Blackthorn scrub, lines and lines of brown twisted ropes of Wild Clematis, while the slightly prickly leaves of Wild Madder are in patches, spreading over the scrub on its hook covered square stems.
A flock of Jackdaws cackling from the Tamarisk added to my morning as did the sight and sound of Bullfinches moving amongst the Brambles.