The sunrise drawing me towards the coast, where the horizon had a fringe of clouds, above which the sun was peeking, a glorious golden glow enriching the Country Park. I wasn’t alone to witness this wonderful start to the day, a group of photographers were at Tilly Whim with their cameras.
Peering through my binoculars I was able to see a few seabirds flying past in the distance, the easiest by far to identify were the huge Gannets with their long white wings, tipped in black, all the ones I saw (about 10) were heading east, towards the Isle of Wight.
Skimming lower to the water, heading westwards were a number of Guillemots, and probably some Razorbills – but the lighting with the sun behind and distance being too far out made it impossible for me to tell.
The same problem with being sure about the Gulls, probably was a flock of Kittiwakes, but it may have been Black-headed Gulls.
On the cliffs the only birds to be seen were two Peregrine Falcons, both hunched up and facing towards the Lighthouse. The dark grey back of the one on Durlston Head blending in with the rock face, whilst the other showed its speckled flecked chest.
Dangling across the gap between two Blackthorns was a mass of bright red berries, along a tangled wreath of Black Bryony.
A charm of Goldfinches flashed amongst the twigs of a Wayfaring trees, while below a Wren trilled loudly.
Across the downland a scattering of fungi, with Parasols looking a bit shrivelled and Field Blewitt a bit slimy!