A damp start to the morning, the cloud low but the air warm. A Grey Squirrel was spiralling up a Sycamore tree its body camouflaged against the dark brown mottled bark. On the tree next to it a Magpie called loudly making its presence known. I was enticed by the sound of the sea so headed down through the woods along a woodchip path. The woods were still and calm, with raindrops trickling from the large Sycamore leaves and delicate pinnate Ash leaves. The sound of Chaffinch calling and Wood Pigeon cooing was a calm reflection of the surroundings and I spotted a Roe Deer munching away deep in the undergrowth undisturbed by my footsteps.
As the sea scape opened up and the ocean was in full view over the thick Gorse scrub a Raven honked boldly and Blue Tits sang as they moved around the over lying scrub. My focus was quickly moved to a Hawthorn where a Green Woodpecker landed, watching for its return out a Kestrel flew past, a small mammal tightly caught in its talons.
Crickets and Grasshoppers sounded from the long drying grass and I admired a Teasel, its purple flowers circling its head in perfect rings. Jackdaws perched on top of the Clematis covered scrub and a Stonechat moved around bush to bush. Out at sea a lovely sight of four Gannets flying east, gliding delicately across the top of the calm water.
Overhead fifteen Wood Pigeons flew over landing on the edge of the cliff. Robins seem to be my main spot for the day with every turn and change in habitat another would appear to chatter away. Looking along the cliffs I started at the base were an adult and juvenile Herring Gull sat, moving up a Great Black-backed Gull perched on the edge and above it a Peregrine Falcon sat silently. At the top two Shags clung to the cliff and in the nooks along the Portland tone ridges Rock Pigeon and Jackdaws perched.