As the thick grey cloud drizzled water, I wandered off towards the cliff tops. Underfoot care required not to tread and crunch the many snails which were taking advantage of the damp conditions to slide across the ground. The Garden Snail seen most, but also the Lapidary Snail, Brown-lipped Snail, Rotund Snail and the Smooth Glass Snail, plus down along the coast path the Spire Snail.
The numbers of Guillemots on the cliff dwindling as the young chicks leave for the open sea, accompanied by a parent. So come and see them now on the water, the ledges and in the Castle Visitor Centre live screen.
A Razorbill stood on a rock outcrop, the jet black colouration looking very different to the dark brown of the Guillemot which was standing alongside. Their beaks also a different shape, easily noticed as they looked at each other.
Splashes of pinks from the Hydrangeas in the Dell, along with Willowherb, Buddleia, the delicate white petals of Mock Orange.
The garden of the Castle now has a good selection of wildflowers and meadow plants, sporting both Red and White Valerian, Ox-eye Daisy, Ivy-leaved Toadflax, Pale Flax, Lesser Knapweed, Bladder Campion, three of the bedstraw family – Ladies Bedstraw, Hedge Bedstraw and Cleavers. Also the yellow flowers of Bird’s-foot Trefoil alongside the duller pink of Red Bartsia and Restharrow.
The tall hard heads of Greater and Hoary Plantain amongst the Cocksfoot, Timothy and Crested Dog’s Tail grasses.
Yesterday evening in the low sunlight, a superb view of a Roe Deer and her small fawn. The bright tan hide of the mother just showing above the tall grasses as she walked, while the smaller, pale brown fawn visible as it jumped! As it got to the shorter grass it was clear to see.
Flying over at the same time a group of 10 or so Swifts, scimitar shaped with their pulled back wings and appearing all black as the zoomed across the sky.