For the last day of March, it was chilly one at 3.1 Celsius, certainly colder in the wind. A Blue Tit investigated the car park edge hedge whilst an unseen Chiff Chaff called. Upon the wooded part of Lighthouse Rd, nearly all the Cherry Plum blossom had been replaced by flowers. Nearby both Blackthorn and Viburnum both showed white blooms, although only the latter had leave (being evergreen of course). A female Blackbird explore the downland floor as the sun broke through the cloud. Between the Measured Mile Marker flew a solo Greater Black Baked Gull followed by a Jackdaw, both of which went east. A Herring Gull trio, at the gully mouth, travelled east too.
Mr. Murray reported a pair of Canada Geese as well as Gannets having been also seen heading west. Both Siskin and Grey Wagtail were amongst his sightings. I for a change, walked the cliff top eastward into the rising sun, which I was shielded from by cloud. The Isle of Wight was visible, in full, over the sea. Guillemot cave occupancy was such that seven had to perch on the awkward boulder face. Some eighty of the sea birds were in a rough linear raft on the sea stretching out from the cliff foot. Amongst them I counted five Razorbills. In active flight were a Fulmar trio “rebounding” off the cliff face. A Shag left the cliff face, near the top, carrying something, unidentified, in its beak. Another Shag was seen to dive into the water from the surface, observed off the Globe. Plenty of Jackdaws and Feral Doves were about the cliff face although being quiet. I believed it was a Raven that flew west along the cliff face. Certainly, one such bird indeed called as it passed over the Dell towards Durlston Bay.
Back near the Globe, chattering Goldfinches were heard whilst nine Greater Periwinkle flowers were surrounded with buds promising many more to come. Round Durlston Head I walk into the strongest, coldest wind of the morning which rattled Tamarisk and Holm Oak branches. Fresh “elephant ear” Burdock leaves were amongst the coast path verge. Upon dry, cracked clay and the foot of the cliff edge dry stone wall was a sheltering red/brown slender Slug. I believed it was a Peregrine Falcon pair that performed playful aerial dives about the woodland edge of Durlston Bay. Upon the Dell Terrace its was Primrose galore, whilst the rock face slowly wept water with only the occasional drip. Above a Magpie flew by, below Hemp Agrimony started to show. Back by Long Meadow Catkins dangled from Silver Birch.