This morning I head straight down to the cliffs to find plenty of Guillemot spread about the water. Theres a separate raft of Razorbill, and a few more Guillemots gathered upon the ledge. You can hear their curious trills all along the clifftop path, the sound carrying over the booming waves blasting against the rocks.
Here, atop the 30m high vertical face of the Portland limestone, Herring Gulls caw and Jackdaws clatter. Silver beady eyes watching on from the latter as they scavenge for insects. Little brown Rock Pipits hopping from rock to rock between the outcrops.
A little further along I see a Peregrine on its usual perch, but no, it’s smaller, with its bright yellow features dimmed in what I thought was the sunlight. I walk closer and realise it’s a Kestrel as I catch a glimpse of its brown feathers ruffling in the wind.
I continue west towards the Lighthouse, past a Shag perched upon old quarry ledges, and onto Anvil Point where the waves roll around rocks at Tilly Whim. Here the grass slopes are decorated white with the little white flowers of Scurvy Grass, between the thick leaved Sea Beet, and Golden Samphire.
On the lighthouse green I pass some Bluebell in flower, growing from within a patch of fluffy Yarrow and then onto the shorter turf slopes beyond to see first my first orchid of the year – an Early Spider Orchid.
The Sun is shining as I make my way back towards the office, with Chiffchaffs calling out in every direction. I wind my way up through the patches of cheery yellow Gorse in flower, and breathe in the lovely coconut scent which fills the air.