Another grey and chilly morning, with a blanket of thick grey cloud covering the sky, mirroring the steely grey waves which murmur against the cliffs.
Near the Dolphin Watch Hut, a Peregrine Falcon perches immobile on the cliff edge, stepping idly from yellow foot to foot as she swivels her head slowly, scanning for prey. She turns to look up as a flock of 50 or so Woodpigeon hurtle past, just above my head, with a clattering of wings, with many hundreds more passing through during my hour’s walk.
Below her, Guillemots are crammed into the ledge, with dozens more bobbing on the water below – some in their much whiter, dappled winter plumage – others in smart ‘breeding’ black and white.
Further out to sea, a total of 6 Gannets glide smoothly by, including a couple of juveniles – again their plumage, more dappled than the adults, with Herring Gulls and Shags also on the wing. In Durlston Bay, a black and white, red-beaked Oystercatcher whistle plaintively as it passes by.
Along the Diagonal Path, a Raven circles overhead, fanning it’s diamond-shaped tail as it turns, with it’s harsh ‘cronks’ ringing out through the breeze. Nearby, Gorse is covered with bright yellow flowers.
On Caravan Terrace, the red breast of a Bullfinch catches my eye from among the drab Blackthorn scrub, with Chaffinches, Robins, Wrens and Great Tits also weaving in and out of the tangle of ‘dirty silver’ Old Man’s Beard. A Dunnock scuffles, mouse-like among the leaf litter near one end of the bride, with the piercing calls of a Goldcrest heard (but not seen) from the canopy above.
In the hedgerows, midnight blue Sloes are starting to shrivel, with the bright orange seeds of Stinking Iris brightening the undergrowth with their brilliant ‘starbursts’.
As I return to the Learning Centre, a flock of Goldfinches passes overhead, their bright red and gold plumage looking out of place on such a grey morning!