The morning starts off very foggy, yet the sun starts to shine as I arrive at Durlston to do another Wildlife Diary – I arrive feeling myself for the first time in a couple of weeks after being unwell, so happy and jolly especially as the sun greets me at work! The Car Park is surrounded by the sound of Blue Tit’s, Robins, Great Tits, and Chiffchaffs “chiffchaff’ing”. I spot a Magpie on top of what I believe is a Field Maple (but my leafless tree ID is poor when I cannot see the leaves!) – this tree has Ivy around it. I spot two Grey Squirrels chomping away and another thin Ivy’d tree – this time an Ash – as if it doesn’t have other problems then Grey Squirrels scratching and chomping on it. As I have my binoculars on the Grey Squirrels, I spot a Dunnock get in the way, this one sitting in a Sycamore closer to me. I walk on and just beside the small copse by the car park, I spot Laurel and Spindle shrubs on the edge.
I walk into the small copse and stand in an area where the sun is beating down on my face, I see a Great Tit, Robin and Wood Pigeon here, and hear a Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Mistle Thrush, Firecrest within the woodland, and Crows seemingly above the copse.
I walk on and continue the diagonal path, I take a photo of the beautiful view of the English Channel with its early morning sea mist and sunshine beaming down above me. The time on my phone states 09:29 – I’m suddenly in France! As I joke to myself, a Wood Pigeon is heard, Linnets a heard above me, and a Human jogger passes me. I take my “binos” to look at the European Gorse, Blackthorn and Hawthorn, here I spot a Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Dunnock and a Wren. I walk on and pass another Human called Katie Black who is also enjoying the mild March sunshine. On top of one of the towers I also spot 4x Jackdaws.
Past Tilly Whim, Guillemots are everywhere, in their cliff cave, on the sea and various rocks close to the cliffs where Razorbills were mixed in, and a Shag was spotted on the rocks undeterred by the Guillemots and Razorbill there, I also noticed one poor Razorbill on its lonesome way outside the group of the black bodies and white tummy’s. Also spotted was Fulmar’s, Jackdaw’s, Feral Pigeons, and Herring Gulls. Later another Shag was spotted diving to feed and then flying away shortly after diving.
Now time to get back to base. One thing I do notice is the midges back to play – one negative of the milder weather I’m willing to have over horrid depressing winter weather!
Merling app detected: Blue Tit, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Firecrest, Jackdaw, Nuthatch, Blackbird, Wood Pigeon, Song Thrush, Crow, Goldfinch, Mistle Thrush, Rook, Greenfinch, Magpie – these all very likely and most heard and seen. Also detected was a Long-Tailed Duck and Oystercatcher – possible but these two species are more wetland habitats, so I do question whether Merlin detected wrong.
Have a happy sunny Thursday!