Down by the cliffs this morning there was barely a movement, the sea silent except for one small area just off Durlston Head where the water was producing a small wave which then crashed with a loud rumbling splash. This was noisy enough to make me stop and look at that area for some time in the hope of a sea mammal or large fish appearing, but nothing, so most likely caused by the tide, wind and underwater geography at that particular point, all aligning at once!
Along the inward hedgerow a scattering of Chiffchaffs were evident as they flitted between the Blackthorn, Elm and Holm Oak trees.
Accompanying them along this avenue were a few Great Tits and a Common Whitethroat – as it sat on the spiky brown head of a Woolly Thistle the pale neck could be seen.
At Tilly Whim, a Kestrel leapt from the rock edge, the movement of this gorgeous chestnut brown bird catching my attention, as it flew below me the grey markings on the wings also seen, before it returned to another limestone outcrop perch.
A few groups of Swallows, heading in all sorts of directions as they swooped along, while the noisy cackling and chuckling of Jackdaws were a delight, it almost seemed as if they were out for their morning group exercise!
Trotting across the path a glimpse of a Fox, this a slight individual with a pale brush on the end of it tail. I was able to enjoy watching as it strolled across the meadow.
The Hawthorn is still covered in red berries, while in a group around the outside of the bush were 4 Stonechats, their orange chests varying from bright to dull. Alongside a good scattering of Willow Warblers also creeping through the twigs.
Two different Roe Deer spotted, one a male bounding across the short grass of the downs, the other, a female, watching me from amongst the long grass of the meadow.