I arrived bright and early into windy darkness, so I prepared the castle for opening whilst I waited for daylight. I stepped back under grey skies with the roaring of the wind to be the mornings soundscape.
Leaf ladened Holm Oaks swayed mightily in the wind. Much froth was to be seen along the rocky shoreline of Durlston Bay. A Herring Gull headed into the wind utilising bent wings. Both Tamarisk and I were battered at Durlston Head as I walked against the wind. I thought of the Park Runners yet to arrive! A Greater Black Backed Gull also managed to head against the mighty force. From the cliff face a Shag duo departed, initially heading out to soon but soon travelling close to the cliffs. There were also Guillemot arrivals and departures from the Portland Limestone.
Anvil Point Light flashed as I spotted, some distance offshore from the Dolphin Hut, one Gannet. Today the Guillemot cave had good occupancy but not such that the sloping boulder was in use. Puddles decorated the wave cut platform at Tilly Whim. I believe it was sea spray that reached me rather than wind. Indeed, the spray reach the short grassland of the clifftops below the Globe. Whilst the Blow Holes were in action at the gully mouth their spray, which drifted inland, was light in comparison to that created by wave cliff collision. Due to our electric fence line in the gully (cattle hopefully arriving on Wednesday) I chose to head up the diagonal path.
Passing the Goat Plot I noted plenty of Gorse regrowth which grazing would hopefully reduce. White flowers upon Viburnum sat beside ball like clusters of Ivy fruits. In the branches of a Hawthorn rested a rather bedraggled Wood Pigeon. A few Winter Heliotrope flowers were found on both sides of the wall at the Small Copse fringe. A pair of Carrion Crows crossed South Field, whilst I briefly glimpse a Blue Tit in flight from the hide. At last, the wildlife pond had a good water level! Even here the wind created waves of ripples over the water body. One Robin sang out near the centre.