What an incredible sky to wake up to this morning. Beautiful pink layers of stratus cloud, which mellowed into flecks of yellow upon reaching Durlston. The low wisps of cloud appearing almost like a painting: Lighter brush strokes against the darker hues, with the low Sun gently breaking out below. All the cloud, moving slowly to the West, to uncover a bright blue sky.
It's not long before I find myself on the coastal path, taking in the full view of the Sunrise. To my left, spikey Gorse stems reaching out to the sunlight, adorned in yellow flowers, and to my right, silhouettes of dead Teasel, shimmering in the breeze.
Whitewater swirls around the base of the cliffs; satisfying sounds of splashing water and the occasional thud of a wave filling a crevice in the rock. A Raven calls out: A deep distinctive cronk from its vantage point atop the Mile Markers.
The Guillemot trills can be heard far as Tilly Whim. It’s perfect morning for Adders, though I don’t spot any upon the usual slope. Herring Gulls and Greater Black-backed Gulls float past at eye-level and I follow the ones patrolling East. Guillemots continually flow to and from the ledge, whilst about 40 of the Auks raft together on the water below.
Here, the sweeping flight of Fulmar, and the low-beating Shag. Woodpigeon and Jackdaw dance around in small flocks, the former occasionally soaring at great speed, and the latter cackling as they tumble together in flight.
The Tamarisk trail leads me around Durlston head. Pleasing to hear the tinkling of Goldfinch passing overhead, the soft tsee-tsee chu-chu-chu-chu of singing Blue Tit, and the pitter patter of water dripping down the rock face at Caravan Terrace.
On my way in, the not too uncommon sight of a Roe Deer cheerily hopping across Queen’s Road.