The weather was right lovely as I arrived at Durlston, but throughout the walk the clouds set in and the pitter patter of rain began.
Today’s sightings felt like spring had sprung early! In a tall Ash, a Chiffchaff was ‘chiff chaffing’ away, singing to no one in particular, Spring Crocus are in flower on the car park verges and out on the meadows the Skylark were out practicing their song.
The Clifftops were super busy this morning. There were more Guillemots on the ledge and water than I’d ever seen! Bobbing on the outskirts of them were four pairs of Razorbills and a pair of Fulmars. Up above were two more Fulmar pairs, circling, toying with the idea of landing and then turning back for another loop. The name ‘Fulmar’ comes from two old Norse words, ‘Ful’ which translates to foul and ‘Mar’ which translates to Gull. The name ‘Foul Gull’ alludes to the disgusting smelling oil that they regurgitate to defend against predators. But they have been incorrectly named ‘Mar/Gull’ as they are not a Gull at all, they are in fact related to petrol’s.
A single Kittiwake was sat out on a ledge, perhaps the only bird to not be in a group or pair that I saw today! Lots of Jackdaws have paired up and were gathering nesting material.
In Durlston Bay a couple of Herring and Great black-backed gulls soared over, a couple of Shags fished whilst others were flying off towards Old Harry’s Rock with branches in their beaks.
Caravan terrace was bustling with bird life. Another Chiffchaff pecked around a Blackthorn, two pairs of Bullfinch were out on a double date foraging and a Wren emerged from the undergrowth to explode with song. Other sightings include Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Magpie, Blue tit, Great tit, Woodpigeon, and a Stonechat.