Once again the Gannets were the stars of the show on yet another wet and windy morning here at Durlston.
As I gazed out to sea these huge white seabirds were passing, some gliding majestically, others seeming to be troubled by the wind they were heading into, their wings dipping towards the water as they jerked.
The Guillemots were again packed tightly onto the main ledge, difficult to see, as they were virtually all facing towards the cliffs so only the dark brown backs were visible and in the very dull light of the morning they blended in perfectly with the rock background. My wet and rain splattered binoculars were not much help.
In the relative shelter of the woodland, some bird calls could be heard above the rustle of the wind and the loud tapping of the branches.
A Wren spurted its loud call from amongst the Ivy leaves draping over the wall, while a Robin hopped along the top of a few cappers.
In the thin twigs of a Sycamore as flash of movement caught my eye, this tiny bird then flew down to land on the smooth trunk of an Ash tree, then onto the London Plane, where it stayed long enough for an identification.
A gorgeous Firecrest, our smallest bird, a slightly greeny colouration with a distinct white stripe from its beak to the back of the head, the ‘firey’ crest very difficult to get a good view of due to its constant flitting movement, eventually however the orange and yellow line was spotted.
A loud squawk alerted me to a Jay just behind me, the white rump disappearing into the woodland as I turned.
Scampering up the Yew tree was a Grey Squirrel, soon followed by a second who both then chased through the branches.