The thick fog was making it difficult to see anything this morning, so the sounds coming back to the ears were helpful in discovering and identifying some of the small birds hidden in the Blackthorn scrub.
A couple of Blackcaps flitting through the branches, the chestnut brown cap of the female noted eventually. Once my attention had been brought to this patch of scrub, the movement of Willow Warblers and a Chiffchaff could be seen, while taking flight was a Redstart, the fiery red tail flashing as it disappeared into the gloom.
Down towards the coast the usual Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls vying for attention, calling noisily as they swooped by, however the thinner straighter wings and chunkier body of a Fulmar - another grey and white bird caught my eye,
Just visible through the fog was a Shag, as it skimmed the waves as it headed eastward towards Durlston Head.
Along the clifftops the flowers still in bloom include the pale lilac Sea Aster and the deep yellow Golden Samphire, as well as the pale green Rock Samphire and dull pink Hemp Agrimony.
The meadows are now scattered with the large round hay bales, and perched on one of these was a Wheatear, the white rump flashing as it twitched its tail.
Looking through the long grass the fog was dripping off the spiders web, including highlighting the web of a Tiger Spider, which has an interesting shape and looks to me as if it has been laced up. The large yellow and black female was clinging to the middle of the web.
Hanging overhead was a Kestrel, amazing to watch this bird of prey as it searched for breakfast.
Returning to the centre 2 Rabbits bounded into the Brambles and a Roe Deer trotted into the woods.