Driving into Durlston the first thing I spot is a Jay flying right to left and landing in a Hawthorn bush. Passing this and parking up, I change my shoes, whilst doing so hearing the wonderful calming song of a Great Tit which is the prominent birdsong in the car park this morning. As I walk towards Lighthouse road I notice how cool it is again today compared to earlier on in the week, as well as being another overcast day with a fresh easterly wind.
On Lighthouse Path, I hear many a Robin, a Firecrest in the distance towards the small woodland, a Dunnock, and Blue Tit. Two Wood Pigeons are seen in flight above me as a Collard Dove sings close by, and as a Wren sings away a male Blackbird is seen on top of Blackthorn while a Raven is perched high on Holm Oak closer towards Goats Plot, and towards that area I can hear many Long-tailed Tits.
In Lighthouse Field I notice the fog becoming slightly dense here compared to the car park and the wind blows on my face – other than that it seems silent at first except for the English Channel hitting the cliffs with splashes. Then I hear and spot a Magpie, Skylarks can be heard in the distance, a Yellowhammer with it’s wonderful song that sound like “a little bit of bread and no cheese” can be heard but not seen unfortunately.
Down in the Gully heard and seen were: Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, male Blackbird, Wren, Long-tailed Tits further towards the back, Robin, Blackcap, Dunnock, Magpie, and Goldfinch, as well as Jackdaws above and a Song Thrush somewhere in the further distance. Also spotted not to far from the Gully when I moved on was a Stonechat – first heard then spotted in the act of singing away.
I walk around the lighthouse and walk upwards towards Tilly Whim, here I spot a Kestrel hovering just beside Tilly Whim caves. However, again today I do not see the Guillemots in the cave (hopefully they are just having a few days away?), but I do see a couple of Shags, Rock Pigeons, many Jackdaws, a few Fulmars, a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls and lots of Herring Gulls making lots of noise.