For the first time in a long time the sun greeted me at the park as ai arrived, just starting to poke out from behind the cloud cover. Looking out over Durlston bay from caravan terrace the water is calm as it laps against the rocky sore line. The sound of birds chirping from the scrub high up on the ledge above my head floats down, as a Great Tit makes a brief appearance before darting back to the safety of the dense scrub. The last of a Stinking Iris’s bright orange berries cling on to the top of a stem, looking a bit worse for wear now.
The woosh of a flock of Ferel Dove zooming past ruffles my hair as they pass in perfect synchro with each other. On the water below the globe, two Shags bob about, before one dives down into the water and out of sight. Between the two Shags a couple of Great Black Backed Gulls also rest on the water, while other glides past along the tops of the cliff. A Robin bursts out from over a wall coming to land right it front of my feet where I nearly trip over the tiny bird, it looks at me like I’m the one getting in its way.
A small raft of Guillemots float on the water just below the large cliff ledge. Only 30 or so individuals remain on the ledge, though while I watch they start in leave in small groups. The light chirping of Goldfinch pulls my attention away from the Guillemots to follow the three birds make there way along the top of the cliffs before ducking down lower and out of sight.
A large flock of Jackdaws precariously perch at the top of a spindly Ash Tree. Up past the mile markers where the cows are happily grazing away. One is even getting a facial from a Jackdaw, who pecks away at the fur round the cow’s face.