Windswept, the term for my patrol! The south easterly wind blowing constantly over 20mph, so down to the cliffs to get the full effects!
On my way I stopped to admire and enjoy a group of Long-tailed Tits as they dangled and flitted between the thin twigs of the Silver Birch. The chattering of these delicately marked pink and black birds drawing me in.
In amongst the Silver Birch branches are masses of twigs almost in balls, these are appropriately (for this time of year) known as Witches Brooms. These are caused by abnormal growth of the cells, where a fungus upsets the regulation of bud growth in an area causing over time the branches to be shortened and condensed.
Continuing to the cliffs my eye was attracted by a movement in the Sycamore – here a Chaffinch had just landed, with another 6 in the other branches around.
Peering through the binoculars, movement in the bush behind, and Firecrest emerged for a few seconds, before disappearing again. While streaking up the adjacent trunk was a Treecreeper.
At the cliff the sea a churning mass of grey water, with white wave tops seething and turning. In the distance skimming along a stream of Gannets, mostly gleaming white wings, but a few showing their darker juvenile plumage.
Also spotted, the much smaller white wings of the Kittiwake, this one of our smallest gulls, heading along the Channel.
However by far the most numerous sighting, were the flow of Razorbills, (estimated at a rate of 12,000 in an hour!), these black and white auks passing out in the distance.
On the Durlston ledge our Guillemots were again in occupation, virtually all of which were still in the ‘winter’ or non-breeding plumage. This winter plumage was also the case for the partially oiled Guillemot which was brought to us yesterday from Swanage beach, it has now been taken to the wildlife hospital for de-oiling and will hopefully be released back to the sea soon.