Another grey day, with not a breath of wind to disturb the layer of thick low cloud, which was limiting the visibility.
Coming from somewhere, deep within the large patch of Blackthorn, Bramble and Wild Clematis scrub was the rattling call of a Wren. A sudden blurr of wings took this small bird to another patch of plants, this one comprising more of Hemp Agrimony, Elder and Teasel, all looking a dull brown in tis grey morning light.
From the tops of a Sycamore came the churring of a Great Tit, to be answered by another Great Tit, which was perched somewhere in the adjacent Elm.
Along the clifftops, sliming their way along the Purbeck limestone dry-stone wall were 4 snails, each a different species. The dark brown flattened shell of the Lapidary Snail (Helicigona lapicida) contrasting with the tall, pointed spiral of Cochlicella Acuta, while the Garden Snail was the largest and most easily spotted. To add to this was a Trapdoor Snail, which has a hard operculum (door) to reduce drying out and predation
The loud growling and gargling sounds of the colony of Guillemots was wafting up from the ledges below, which were packed with 200+of theses black and white Auks.
As I scanned the cramped conditions there were only a few birds still sporting their white faces of ‘winter’ or non-breeding plumage, the vast majority showing their summer breeding colour of dark chocolate brown heads.
On the water a raft of 12 Guillemots in a perfect straight line, why do they bob on the water like that?
Higher on the rocks, standing on an outcrop was a Peregrine Falcon, the dark grey back towards me, but I was able to see its yellow talons. A sudden stretch, followed by a couple of strong short flaps and the Peregrine was off, gliding then beating its wings followed by another glide.
Further out Shag was skimming across the flat water, and further out still was a Red-throated Diver.