With the clouds fringed with a pink stripe and a strong wind blowing from the sea, I was drawn towards the coast where I was delighted to see and spend time watching 3 Fulmars. These superb birds were swinging in and round and out catching the wind as they went by, to repeat over and over, looking just like they were having fun.
On the main edge below, well over 150 Guillemots were standing about, while others were flying past. Also passing a flock of Kittiwakes, these small white gulls just above the choppy grey seas, while further out still a steady flow of Razorbills, probably numbering over 1000 in total.
Three Scoter (small black ducks) spotted along with 4 huge gleaming white Gannets, heading in the opposite direction, dwarfing the Scoter.
Dipping into Tilly Whim a Rock Pipit, a quick call as it went, while overhead the sound of a couple of Siskins calling to each other caught my ear.
Changing direction, I headed for the shelter of the farmland, past a Stonechat which was perched on the top of a sprig of flowering Gorse.
Suddenly, spotted just by the wall a short stocky deer with a long face. This was a Muntjac, only recently have they become a confirmed species for Durlston. As it scuttled across the narrow field, I was able to have a good look at it.
This added to the mammal species as I have previously spent a few moments watching a Brown Rat bounding across the middle of a field, appearing and disappearing as the tufts of grass got in its way.
Last night as I walked along the path in the dark, the trotting sound of the hooves of a Roe Deer, followed by its shadowy appearance before it passed through a gap in the hedge. A little later a Fox also passed me as well as a Badger, identified by the sound as it bumbled along, before I saw this grey creature emerging from the dark.