My first Diary in a while and we are well into the last month of winter now, whilst Dry-stone walling with work party yesterday Skylarks were heard singing away in the meadows. Starting the diary from the car park, an array of music can be heard from Robins, Wood Pigeons, Crows calling, Goldfinches, a Jackdaw, and a Wren. Spotted were Great Tits on Brambles and Blue Tits on Sycamore, whilst a Collared Dove sings away.
Walking into the small woodland leading to the Diagonal path, Lords and Ladies are spotted surrounded by Ground Ivy. With all the rain that is slashing Dorset currently the Diagonal path has a stream washing down it. Chaffinches are heard singing away amongst the Holm Oaks, Sycamore and Ash still leafless from the winter, whilst much Stinking Iris and Harts-tongue Fern is present. As the woodland becomes more open shrubland of European Gorse, Blackthorn, Hawthorn and Bracken, the view of the English Channel is clearer – here a Raven is spotted above, Greenfinches and Dunnocks are heard singing away within the shrubs, a male Blackbird sits on top of Blackthorn while a Wren is on Gorse. Above four Herring Gulls are spotted above me whilst two Robins chase each other.
Getting to the bottom of the diagonal path passing Tamarisk, Tilly Whim is reached. Here Cormorant is spotted as the Guillemots are happy in their cave, further down around 17 Razorbills with their rounder peaks and darker body compared to Guillemots are spotted in little clumps away from the main crowd of seabirds which is predominantly Guillemots with a few Razorbills mixed in. Along the path a Meadow Pipit is heard in the distance, around three Fulmars spotted, and Shags are seen. From the Viewpoint, a Greater black-backed Gull and Jackdaws are spotted on the cliffside.
At Durlston Bay, Long-tailed Tits and a Wren can be heard singing away within the slope heading down towards the bay. Another male Blackbird is spotted as well as a Robin and Great Tit both singing away. A dry-stone wall is being constructed by our great Thursday walling volunteers whilst the remaining walls to the left of me hold beautiful mosses. Towards the castle two Grey Squirrels graze their presence, I stop to listen out above – Robins, Great Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits and a Wren are all singing away.