Glorious morning for my early wander around Durlston. Down through the woods the sunshine was pouring from the blue sky, back-lighting the remaining leaves in shafts of orange.
Scampering along the branch of an Austrian Pine was a Grey Squirrel, which then sat upright, its fur silhouetted, the individual hairs lit up.
The twittering of Great Tits coming from the upper most twigs and leaves of a Holm Oak. Moving through the same patch was a couple of Blue Tits.
High up in the twigs of a Sycamore, a Goldcrest was moving quickly from one to another, very difficult to watch as it kept disappearing behind the tree!
While searching, a Chiffchaff popped into view, also travelling along the branches looking for some breakfast.
On the ground large swathes of Winter Heliotrope leaves, these are thick and almost heart shaped, and poking up from amongst them a few of the delicate very pale pink almond scented flowers.
As I stood looking across the landslip, a Sparrowhawk was swooping past, the flight pattern a ‘flap-flap-glide’, the long tail easy to admire before the bird disappeared in amongst the thick mash of trees.
Out above the water a number of Gannets glided past, the white wings ended in black tips.
From a Beech tree emerged a Jay, the flash of blue from its wing as it flew, a loud squawk emitted confirming its presence.
A quick check to see if the large Adder that was seen I yesterdays drizzle was still in the same place, but it has moved.
Last night the sound of a Tawny Owl hooting filled the air.