I start the walk and the sun is out! A great start to the day, I need to fetch binoculars, so I head to the bird hide, passing a Pheasant by the Learning Centre, a Magpie is spotted as well as many Goldfinches above me. Once I have the binoculars I head straight for the castle, within the car park the wonderful song of a Great Tit can be heard making me feel calm inside. Passing the car park and walking to the castle, I look right of me Primroses, Stinking Iris, Green Alkenet and Lords and Ladies are all seen making an appearance.
I head into the small woodland to the right of me where Holm Oak and leafless Sycamore and Ash are the predominant canopy, instantly I see Harts-tongue Ferns, a Wood Pigeon swoops between trees, Crows are heard in the distance and Robins sing away. Taking the diagonal path, Blue Tits are heard amongst the Holm Oak. Walking out into a more open habitat where the brisk wind hits, Goldfinches are spotted again above, a Wren sings within the Gorse, Blackthorn and Hawthorn, and towards the bottom of the diagonal path the sound of the wind can be heard through the mile towers – a very airy sound!
On the clifftop, I pass Tilly Whim of which the top gate is now shut to allow Adder snakes to come out of hibernation. Meanwhile Guillemots are seen in their cave, and a Greenfinch is heard to the left of me. I stop at the Observation point, here Jackdaws, Herring Gulls, Fulmars, Great Black-backed Gulls, and Feral Pigeons can be spotted. Although Guillemots were spotted in their cave, I could not see groups of Guillemots or Razorbills on the sea today – maybe a tad too wavy?
Onward, a Dunnock is seen around Harry Paye, as Robins, a Wren and Blue Tits are seen and heard up by Durlston Bay and down in the Dell. Up on the play trail, a Grey Squirrel is seen as well as many more Robins, and a Magpie. Walking back up to the Learning Centre, another Magpie is seen, this one had a large twig in its mouth – already potentially starting to build a nest maybe.