Another dramatic change in the weather with grey skies and drizzle to accompany my wander across this magnificent place!
Skimming along, just above the grey seas was a group of 3 Gannets, their glorious brilliant white contrasting with the dark black wing tips.
Around the cliffs a constant whirring of Guillemots, while standing and sitting on the rock ledges the Guillemots are incubating eggs or keeping their newly hatched chicks close to them.
We have counted 13 Fulmars this year which is a good number, hopefully some of them are breeding, and laid an egg in the small dip in the nooks, which could be hatching soon.
When the rain stopped for a short while, a sudden screeching came from overhead and a Peregrine Falcon swooped by, some sort of prey dangling in its yellow talons, it was met by a second Peregrine and they both then disappeared from view – another hopeful sign of spring.
The calcareous downland along the tops of the clifftop is covered in yellow, mostly a carpet of Kidney Vetch, while on the slopes the more delicately sized Horseshoe Vetch adds a slightly brighter yellow amongst the grasses.
As I checked the cattle and their water supply a male Yellowhammer popped its bright yellow head up from the Hawthorn bush – a fantastic view.
This was followed by the discovery of a clump of 29 Bee Orchids, beautiful pink petals on tall pale green stems, surprisingly difficult to spot!
The vivid cerise red of Gladiolus near the Lighthouse – this a garden escapee rather than the very rare Wild Gladiolus.
Despite the drizzle, Dunnocks were singing as were Skylarks, while a couple of Meadow Pipits took flight from field 10a.
Scuttering across the path a male and female Pheasant, while from the Gorse the scratchy song of a Whitethroat, and a Blackcap spotted as it darted in amongst the spikes.