The Goldfinches were being bathed in bright sunshine as I strolled down towards the cliffs. The yellow wing bars flashing as they perched on the metal chains which runs between the Victorian London bollards.
In the Holm Oaks a flicker of movement was traced to the Goldcrest flitting between the dull green leaves.
With the sun reflecting on the sea, the hundred or so Auks bobbing on the surface were difficult to spot! However, once they appeared, a quick check through counted 24 Razorbills amongst them, the rest being Guillemots. On the ledge another 150+ Guillemots were jostling and growling, the sound wafting up to be easily heard.
Soaring around were 4 Fulmars, while a Raven patrolled ominously along the cliff tops, the huge wingspan dwarfing the other birds.
On the ledges of Tilly Whim two birds were in action, a quick chase, then both moved to perch on different Portland limestone rocks. The first I looked through binoculars was a Rock Pipit, the greyish mottled markings allowing it to blend in very well with the background.
The second was much flashier, charcoal black, with white wing bars and a bright red tail, unmistakable as a Black Redstart, with luck this male will stay to breed for the season.
Above the entrances hidden amongst the bracken and tamarisk, laying on the bare earth, was a female Adder, her brown colouring making her really difficult to find as she warmed herself in the sunshine.
Overhead a Meadow Pipit circled, while Skylarks were singing above the fields and just off the park to the west a Yellowhammer was spotted.
Suddenly from the top of an Apple tree, a Stonechat started to sing, not its usual ‘chatting’ but this its full blown breeding song.