“Swathes of Spring Squill were blooming across the low lying grassy plains, along with tufts of Sea Thrift decorating the rocks or “Seapink” as it is known locally. Wading Oystercatchers were out in full force, noisily deterring any passers-by and on more than once occasion we found some seemingly dubious choices in location for their shallow scrape-like nests.”

“The clear-cut winner of this months’ star of the show award is a peaceful alliance between two of the most captivating mammals you will find on these shores.”

“Just last week though, it was a new discovery at that same Badgers watering hole that had me equally as excited as that day back in early December when I first noticed the pond being used.“

“Whilst I was quietly confident that birds would use it fairly quickly for bathing and preening, there was one visitor that I could never have really expected to show up, nor so promptly. The visitor in question arrived almost immediately after the pond was first filled and frequently returned for refreshment in the forthcoming days.”

“With many birds, the males tend to gain a significantly larger share of the attention, thanks to in most cases their more elaborate colouration. In this instance, it was the beauty of the females that struck me. Understated in comparison perhaps, but as striking and compelling a bird as I had seen in some time.”

“At its rocky summit, clambering over the limestone pavement whilst carefully navigating through the Hart’s-tongue Ferns and calamitous crevices, a large, partially vegetated overhang was clearly visible. On its ledge, lay a bird which I have only ever seen briefly, firing across the skyline above.”