Durlston awakes to near-perfect clear blue sky, with just of a thick band of cloud on the horizon. The Sunrise is delayed to about 0815: finally breaking through the cloud and alighting the park. All the paths are dusted a frosty white and glisten in the morning light.
On my morning patrol today, I was joined by a friend and his new puppy, who took great delight in exploring the ice covered landscape (mostly by chewing) from frozen cow pats to crunchy leaves and sticks.
The Hereford Cows have already began their day, and are busy grazing the grass in the Lighthouse Field. Jackdaws clatter around across the slopes, and Blackbirds chirp from within the Blackthorn.
The sea is calm. The water gently rises and falls over the lowest ledge at Tilly Whim which is covered in a mass in seaweed. Woodpigeons flock above the cave openings and a couple of Common Gulls pass overhead.
Guillemots float in great rafts below the sea cliffs, paddling their little feet to not stray too far from one another. This winter, the birds have taken to the cliffs for a good number of consistent weeks, rather than coming and going as normal.
We continue our stroll around Durlston Head, passing the crowds assembling for the parkrun, and the new stone seat below The Great Globe.
The rocks at Caravan Terrace glow, with the Sunlight now peaking above the cloud. Water drips down from the tufa, with melted icicles piled up on the ground below. Birdsong can be heard all around, with Great Tits and Robins taking centre stage.