The temperature sat around 22°C to 23°C, but a 13 to 15 mph southerly breeze made it feel closer to a warm 25°C—a truly beautiful, mild afternoon.

   After Margaret dropped me off at the golf club gates, I set out under a fiercely bright sun. Several jackdaws were already busy feeding on the grass along the outskirts of the course. Nearby in the hedgerow, a large shrub caught my eye, its dazzling yellow tree lupin flowers looking absolutely stunning in the sunshine.

   Heading towards the cliffs, I passed more jackdaws pecking at the turf. At the exit leading down to the shore, I came across another glorious patch of tree lupins, their branches covered in golden, pointed candles and alive with fluttering sparrows.

   Reaching the clifftop, I looked down at the promenade. The tide was fully in, sending tiny waves rippling towards the shore, and I paused to photograph a sea-fishing vessel just offshore. Oddly, the entire area was completely devoid of gulls—it then occurred to me that they had likely vanished to their breeding grounds.

   Down on the promenade, my approach startled a delightful mixed flock of starlings and sparrows, which burst into flight from a large Hebe shrub teeming with birds. Re-entering the golf course, I watched more jackdaws wheeling about the grass and snapped a photo of some vibrant red and white dog roses tucked into a corner by the path.

   A man walking a golden retriever offered a friendly greeting as he passed. Nearing the end of my route back at the main gates, I spotted a pair of dunnocks perched quietly on the brambles next to the railway line.

Stats Summary

Distance: 2.23 miles

Duration: 48 minute

Google Fit: 28 Heart Points

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.