What a very dull early morning, a blanket of grey clouds without a peek of blue or even light grey between them.
Across the carpark and the Grey Squirrels were scampering up the trunks of the Holm Oaks, a loud chattering taking place as they went. The loopy flight of a Jay spotted as it too headed for the trees, but this flashy bird landing amongst the twigs of a Field Maple.
Towards Durlston Head a Goldcrest could be heard in the Elms, and Great Tits in amongst the mass of rambling, clambering Old Man’s Beard.
At sea a large bird could be seen in flight, but it was too dark to identify it, just a dark shape against the grey water! However from the Observation Point, skimming low above the sea were 2 Shags, one with a little bit of its crest showing.
My attention was caught by the sight of a Fulmar, the bright white head and tail contrasting with tis dark grey back and wings. This amazing flier was joined by a second, and they provided me with a personal showy performance as they soared and glided in and out of the wiggles in the cliffs.
Dragging myself away, a bird of prey a gliding towards my direction, the barrel chest and flat wings of a Peregrine Falcon, as it went past the wings adjusted a little into a more swept back position.
A Rock Pipit was calling loudly down by Tilly Whim, scuttling along the short green turf until flitting over the edge.
A sudden flash of white erupting from the grass, zigzagging across the sky, with a fairly long beak visible as it went, this helped with the identification as a Snipe, (a smallish wader, which often visit at this time of year).
Leaping over a dry-stone wall was a Roe Deer, one of 3 spotted, while a little later a larger, darker (and grumpier) looking Sika Deer was seen by our western boundary.