A wild and windy start to the day! At Tilly Whim, the sea boils into white foam, exploding against the cliffs and send plumes of spray high into the air, with specks of foam and even a Mermaid’s Purse (the globular egg case of a Dog Whelk) found near the top of the Tilly Whim steps!
Down below, Guillemots are crammed onto the ledges, taking a temporary respite from battling the weather out at sea, flickering out on their tiny wings to fish.
Shags battle the wind, or bob on the rolling waves, with a few Kittiwakes passing by, blown by the wind like tiny pieces of sea foam. More assured, a Fulmar carves immaculate curves around the cliff-face as if oblivious to the gusts.
A Peregrine Falcon, her feathers fluffed and ruffled, clings to a rocky outcrop near the Observation Point.
Passing Durlston Head, the plaintive ‘mew’ of an Oystercatcher rises up from below the cliffs.
In the relative calm of Caravan Terrace, the pattering of water fills the air, as a temporary ‘waterfall’ streams down the cliff-face, filtered through the clay layers which lie between the Purbeck Beds. A few small birds popping briefly out of the scrub, including Blue and Great Tits, Robin, Wren and an overwintering Blackcap.
Further up in the woodland, a Goldcrest seen weaving among the canopy, with the bright blue feathers of a Jay brightening the gloom.
A few splashes of colour from the orange ‘starburst’ seedpods of Stinking Iris, the golden fruit of a Crab Apple in the Dell and the sulphur-yellow leaves of Elms.
Even on such a wild morning, good to see brave parkrunners out there! Later today an ultra-marathon will be passing through – hope the weather improves!