This morning I was joined around the clifftop by the many volunteers who help out at our parkrun, as they prepared the course for the 100 or so expected runners – what stars,
Perched on the cliff ledge well over one hundred Guillemots, in the dullness of the early light, without binoculars I would have missed them completely. There were none on the water, none in flight and were not making any noise, however from near Tilly Whim, looking back towards Durlston Head (just by an extra high capping stone) the ledge and the mostly winter plumaged Guillemots could be seen.
At sea, flying slowly past was a skein of Brent Geese, fairly easy to identify by the bright white rump as the y flew asway from my.
Also out there were a few Gannets, they glorious white gleaming birds skimming low across the almost flat water, their black wings tips visible on the dip as they slowly flapped – I always love to watch these, our largest of seabirds.
The calling flock of Goldfinches landed on mass amongst the spiky Gorse, which was covered by a rambling mass of Old Man’s Beard. The name particularly apt at this time of year as the white wispy flowers are everywhere!
A Chiffchaff, flitted through the Hemp Agrimony, whose dull pink flowers have now died off and turned a dirty buff colour.
At the edge of Saxon field a surprisingly tall and robust purple flower of a Selfheal caught my eye, sheltered perhaps by the large Yellow Meadow Ant hill on one side and the overhanging Brambles on the other.
A few Blackbirds to be heard and seen, plus Chaffinch, Stonechat, Rock Pipit and Jackdaws, but I was expecting more flocks of Wood Pigeon and Stock Doves, but during my hours walk not a single large flock to be seen!