With bright shafts of sunlight squeezing between the breaks in the cloud just above the horizon, it made for a lovely wander around the fields and downs of Durlston. Accompanying me as I walked was the tinkling and buzzing of small birds.
A flash of gold shining through the sunlit wing, as the charm of Goldfinches landed in the tops of the dead but still seed filled Woolly Thistles and Burdock.
Taking off from the hedgerow was a Redwing, this thrush having recently arrived as part of its migration, a pale stripe across its eye and a dark red splodge under its wing help in its identification.
Another of the autumn arrivals spotted in the tops of a Hawthorn were two Ring Ousels. These sporting a pale white collar under their chins and a slight white-silvery wing. A Blackbird perched nearby, its yellow beak and glossy body a contrast to the Ring Ousels.
Inside a rambling patch of Old Man’s Beard, some Chiffchaffs, a constant flitting up, down, in and out of the white fluffy heads.
Behind them a couple of Common Whitethroats, more static on the branch providing me with better views, as did a Blackcap, its black cap highlighted by the sunlight.
Laying about in the far fields were a couple of Roe Deer, the antlers sticking up above the grass. A super view of a Fox as it hopped over the wall, the pale chestnut colour again being captured by the sunlight.
At the foot of a wall a large pile of Badger poo, the latrine showing the undigested parts of their diet – the stone and pips of sloes, blackberries and haws.
As I headed towards the lower gully, sadly no view for me of the Short-eared Owl which was seen yesterday, but they can often hang around so do keep an eye out.
A few Chaffinches, Linnets and Siskins passing overhead a constant calling to accompany the walk.