The early morning gloom was, in the woodland, characterised by the sounds of scampering Grey Squirrels, their feet disturbing the fallen leaves now covering the ground. Around the base of a stand of Holm Oaks four of the creatures were chasing up the trunks, their claws tapping as they moved!
Along the edges of the soft paths a number of newly produced dips and holes, evidence of a Badger or two recently passing this way – good to see as they had a tough summer with the hot dry weather.
On Durlston Head, I did a double take as I peered through the Tamarisk, as there on the edge of the cliffs were two Roe Deer, the male sporting his antler prongs as he gazed seaward, the female looking towards me, her black nose and large ears the features noticed most.
Perched in an Elm tree was a Robin, which then darted to the ground near my feet before returning to the perch. Not sure if it discovered any breakfast on that trip.
The sea was very flat this morning, barely a white horse or ripple to be seen, and skimming just above this was a Shag. Looking up, were two more large black birds, these were soaring past and were slightly different – slightly larger, a slightly different flight action and a slightly more flattened forehead – so obviously two Cormorants.
On the cliff edge the Peregrine Falcon stood once again, while a little lower the ledge was packed with Guillemots, these black and white birds popping back to their breeding site more often now as winter progresses, and with every day the proportion of those in the white-headed plumage phase decreases.
Heading back towards the Centre, I spotted a Pied Wagtail flying overhead, and a Dunnock and a Blackbird in the depths of the Blackthorn scrub.