A pair of Roe Deer stand in the middle of Lighthouse Road as I approach the park first thing. The buck noted by its short three-pronged antlers and doe without. They startle and scamper up the hill, white bums bouncing up the track and over the wall into Smithfield.
There’s chatter in the air from numerous groups of Goldfinch. They take flight between the trees and down to the ground where one charm perches upon a patch of Prickly Sow-thistle. Bright yellow feathers reflecting the Dandelion-like flowers.
I head out into the meadows which are now scattered with Daisy and Cowslip. Amongst this mosaic, plenty of Early Purple and Early Spider Orchids can be found, along with pleasing fluffy pom-poms of Dandelion clocks. Great Tit, Robin, and Song Thrush in song, no sign of the Cirl Bunting spotted yesterday.
It’s a misty morning with the ground still damp, even following the sunshine yesterday. The dreary sky and cool weather lends itself enabling a variety of molluscs to explore; Black Slugs, White-lipped, and Garden Snails; some of which have shells so sun-bleached they appear almost white.
Chiffchaffs sound continuously in the Lighthouse Field, with a cock Pheasant occasionally crowing its two-note call. Magpie, Jackdaw, and Kestrel all taking turns to occupy the telegraph wires which hang across the gully.
Stepping down onto the coast path, I pass lots of little fresh mounds of earth, where Mining-Bees have burrowed. The sea cliffs are bustling with activity, where the 400 strong Guillemot colony pack into their ledges, and raft on the water below. A few Razorbill perch higher up and are clearer to view. Fulmar, Shags, Herring Gulls on the wing, along with a single Oystercatcher piping as it passed.