A grey muggy morning clings to the park, a light drizzle accompanies me on my walk this morning. I pass the park run volunteers busy setting up for this morning’s event. Great Tits chatter overhead in the branches of a Holm Oak as I pass underneath. The repetitive call of a Chiffchaff draws my attention to the fluffy branches of a Tamarisk, where the small bird can be seen hoping among the branches.
Further round Durlston head more Great Tits can be heard calling from the Tamarisk. One passes with a green grub in its beak, it then finds its chick hiding in the branches and feeding the grub to the chick. Chick calls in protest as the parent goes to leave to find more food.
Along the edges of the steps up to the Great Globe, Wild Clary, Red Clover and Horseshoe Vetch can all be seen in flower. In the wall above the globe Red and White Valerian can be seen in full bloom.
Over the wall along the top of the cliff’s white flowers with a grey green bladder of Sea Campion can be seen pocking over the wall. The heavily veined purple flowers of tall Stinking Iris also droop over the wall. Below a Raven rest on the cliffs edge before taking off and diving into a ledge out of sight.
From the castle camera we observed three Ravens bothering the Guillemots yesterday, at one point we sore one take an egg from its parents and start eating it.
A lone Fulmar swoops in and out of the cliffs, while on a ledge above a lone Razorbill rest, occasionally stretching its wings. The Guillemot ledge is looking a little empty this morning with none of the usual jostling for space.