Perched on the fence just near the centre was the bizarre sight of 3 Pheasants, swaying as they gripped the top of the thin slat. Their large bulk in stark contrast to the Robin which was perched just alongside! As I walked past a sudden squawk as they toppled off into flight.
In amongst the mass of Blackthorn scrub two Bullfinches were sat, their bright pink chests obvious, these were just some of the 6 Bullfinches spotted as I walked around.
Flitting up from the patch of Creeping and Woolly Thistles were Goldfinches, a delightful ‘tinkling’ sound as they flew and flashes of white and gold catching the eye.
Down along the coast the glorious sight of gleaming white Gannets gliding past, a steady trickle of these birds, easily spotted due to their colour, size and they were fairly close in.
A few Kittiwakes a little further out as were some Mediterranean Gulls and Herring Gulls while on the cliffs a Great Black-backed Gull stood majestically.
On the water just below the rocks were over 50 Auks, the majority Guillemots (25 in full breeding plumage, plus a 7 still with their white face markings of winter.) In amongst however were 12 Razorbills, of which 5 were still in winter garb. Although both these auks have whitefaces in winter the shapes are slightly different making distinguishing them at distance an easier job.
Other seabirds included over 150 Guillemots on the ledges, 4 Fulmars circling the cliffs and further out a Red-throated Diver.
A flock of Feral Pigeons were set up and then exercised by a chasing Peregrine Falcon, although it all seemed very half-hearted. A Sparrowhawk dashed up the gully and in the woods a Kestrel perched on the branch of a large Elm. Nearby a Firecrest in the twigs of the Black Poplar, and a Treecreeper moving up the trunk of a London Plane.
Overhead 2 Siskin passed and a couple of Meadow Pipits also recorded.