Probing the soft mud of a Meadow Ant hill was a Green Woodpecker, the green feathers reflecting the rays of the early morning sunshine. As I enjoyed this sight the bird took off with a noisy ‘yaffle’
No wind to speak of today, and more activity from the small birds with the churring of Great Tits and the chatting of Blue Tits easily heard from amongst the long tangled fronds of the Wild Clematis, whose white tufty dead flower heads are still providing seeds.
Low in the scrub a Wren perched, the pale eye stripe catching my attention as it moved its head, while on the ground a Dunnock skulked.
Down in the gully, as I waited ‘patiently’ for movement, a pair of Ravens could be heard croaking from the top of the mile markers. Then a flicker of red and a Black Redstart spotted in the Holly bush, picking gently at one of the juicy red berries.
A Blackbird arrived on the scene, this bird with a bright white feather in its tail.
A flock of Goldfinches landed in a patch of Greater Knapweed, the flower heads mostly now a mass of silvery saucers, but they must contain some kind of nourishment.
To the cliffs where the Guillemots were closely packed onto the ledge, while on the water another 50or so were bobbing. In with these were more Razorbills than would normally be present in mid-January, with 15 counted of which 8 were still in the white-faced ‘winter’ plumage.
Soaring amazingly along the rock face were 2 Fulmars, while a Shag stood right at the top, gazing down.
A Peregrine Falcon was on an outcrop, the pale chest facing towards me, the bird looking quite stocky as it sat, in marked contrast to the Peregrine seen a few moments later as it dashed across the sky, the slate grey back and pointed wings making it look very sleek.
In the distance at sea numerous small flocks of Auks were skimming low to the water as they headed eastwards