As the Hereford herd of cattle have now been moved into the Lighthouse Field, the route of my patrol included this field. However starting through the woodlands where the sound of a Goldcrest in the tops of the Elms caught my attention above the moaning of the wind. Scanning the area, the flitting movement of these tiny birds eventually picked up, and the gold flashes on their head seen.
As I watched the slightly different markings of a Firecrest was spotted, the pale stripe across the eye, rather than a pale ring the most easily distinguished, the differences in crest very difficult to see form my view below them.
In a windswept Sycamore a Chiffchaff was perched on a narrow swaying branch, in the early light, looking a dull browny-green all over.
Across Durlston Bay the water was churning, providing lots of white wave as they broke, while standing on the headland the wind was whipping with great strength, around the corner all was calm.
Scanning along the cliff face, no birds to be seen, however floating up into the air above the cliffs was a Peregrine Falcon. The chunky body and swept back wings spotted, this bird then undertook a bit of a flying display for me, twisting the tail to change position, dropping down and then soaring back up again. Such a treat to watch.
On the water 10 Guillemots (8 of which were looking very dapper in the breeding plumage, while the other 2 were still sporting the white face feathers of winter (non-breeding) plumage.
On the ledge well over 150 more Guillemots were again packed on, the black and white bodies constantly active as they jostled with their neighbours, preened and stood.
Around to check the cows, a scattering of chestnut brown and white fur across the field. On the slopes the dead golden brown heads of Carline Thistles still adding some interest, while underfoot the crunch of hundreds of small empty snail shells could be felt and heard!