A blustery morning, the first time for a while and a pleasure to be out in. The lure of the sea pulled me to the coast path where I could watch the grey sea churning and crashing into the solid Portland limestone cliffs.
Flying above the water a scattering of Gulls, mostly Herring Gulls, the youngster in their various mottled browns and greys feathering, and the adults a sleek grey. More vivid were the Greater Black-backed Gulls, their white edging showing up superbly against the dark water.
From the leafless trunk of an Elm came the loud persistent trilling of a Wren, such a loud noise for such a small bird. As it took flight then landed amongst the stems and trunks of the Tamarisk, the cocked tail and white eyebrow could be seen.
Turning to face eastwards I was rewarded with the sight of a ledge about three-quarters full of Guillemots. With the dark lighting and distance it was difficult to tell what proportion were in their breeding or non-breeding plumage. However wonderful to see them back again after their summer vacation.
A few flowers are still blooming, along the cliffs this includes the odd bright yellow Golden Samphire, an occasional pale lilac Sea Aster and more yellow from Rough Hawkbit and purple of Lesser Knapweed.
Along the hedges the berry pods of the Stinking Iris have opened into a triangular shape, showing off lines of bright orange berries.
From above a high pitched call was being emitted, looking up, in the branches of the Holm Oak I could see a Goldcrest, tiny and slightly greenish, but with a stripe of orange/yellow across its head. After a while a few more of these, our tiniest birds, flitted into and out of view.
The loud squawking of a Jay made me turn, to see two of these spectacular coloured crows in flight, nearby Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Magpies and a Raven – all part of the corvid family.