Wonderful to get out for a walk here at Durlston after the Christmas weekend, I was welcomed by rain and a blustery breeze as well as the Christmas Elves and Reindeer of our Trail!
A patch of dead Woolly Thistle came to life as a couple of brightly coloured Goldfinches arrives on top of the sagging heads. The gold flashes brilliant this morning, especially in the contrast to the greyness around.
It felt like a cliff day, so to Durlston Head where a Peregrine Falcon glided magnificently overhead, allowing me a superb view as it eased its way across the Bay before turning around and heading back towards me.
At sea a flurry of wings saw Guillemots whirring in large circles while many more were stood erect on their breeding ledge, the black and white colouration blending in with the rock face. When they turned, almost as one to face outwards they were much more obvious.
Skimming low to the water was a Fulmar, the thin wings enabling amazing control, noted particularly as it rose and then twisted around the cliff, zooming in and out – I can spend ages watching these birds.
The gusty wind catching a Shag unawares, or so it seemed as I watched, this large black bird stalled and had to approach for a second time before landing on its chosen outcrop.
Back towards the more sheltered and drier woodland and the sounds of Blackbirds and Robins producing burst of songs while the rapid noisy alarm call of a Wren came from the midst of an Ivy covered section of rotten Sycamore stump.
For the third time recently we have come across what look like mole hills – we have never had reports or sightings of these mammals before, so it would be a first. We have found these 3 strange piles of soil, about 150-200 yards apart from each other – most bizarre!