I walked across Long Meadow into the blazing sunlight upon the coast path. The sun shone and was reflected as a beam across Durlston Bay. On low tide below an Angler and many crab / lobster pots peppered the bay. High cloud, several vapour trails and a near full Moon (to the west) decorated a blue sky.
A breeze moved Wild Bay Willowherb as I crunched upon fallen, dried Sycamore leaves. A Magpie fled the timeline on to cackle above the Dell from an Ash. Another such bird added to the noise. Buddleia and Mexican Daisy flowered at the Castle whilst it was now marble size acorn upon a Holm Oak. Upon the Dell Bridge a Grey Squirrel explored.
It surprised me to hear a male Stonechat call at Durlston Head and it would not be a last. A pair were on top of the stunted wind shaped Blackthorn between the globe and observation point were another pair. Then latter I would see more, most expectedly, in the Gully. Of course, some of these Stonechats will migrate. Depending upon your perspective the cliff top Tamarisk was either providing shelter or obscuring the view. This did not prevent my spotting the Peregrine Falcon that perch above a vacant cliff cave. The Jackdaws and Feral Doves in its line of sight to the west continued as normal. To the east, near the globe, a spray of plucked feathers illustrated the predator’s prior success. Briefly a Swallow pair followed the coast path going west. The Peregrine later passed me at Tilly Whim then I noticed behind it a score of Jackdaw rise, then separate. Whilst I only heard a Green Woodpecker near the goat plot, I was to see a Greater Spotted Woodpecker in the gully. Initially it was climbing up a telegraph pole then it explored an electric pole before taking to the wing. Nearby a trio of Goldfinches briefly paused upon Blackthorn. An unseen Chiff Chaff called. In the shade between a dry-stone wall and the Small Copse two large Garden Spider webs awaiting flying prey.
I was again surprised, this time to see a Common Lizard scuttle across the grassy path in relative shade as I approached the weather station.