A quite glorious Saturday morning, bright autumnal sunshine casting long shadows and a wonderful glow early on. The birdlife seemed to be out in force with 6 Jays counted in the first few minutes of my patrol. These colourful members of the crow family seem to have such a ‘light’ flight compared to the Carrion Crows and Ravens I was also able to watch and listen to this morning.
The leafless Elder was being occupied by 3 different species of the Thrush family, with a greyish coloured Blackbird low in the bush, while a Song Thrush was at the top and midway a Redwing. The Redwing’s pale eye stripe the feature of note compared with the Song, as the flashed under the wing couldn’t be seen as it perched.
A flock of Meadow Pipits flew overhead while 3 remained to stand on the electricity wires over the gully, perched alongside a Kestrel who then took flight circled around and proceeded to hover above the rough Tor Grass stands, this is probably one of my favourite sights as the head of this bird of prey remains perfectly still while the odd feather adjusts the rest of its body – amazing.
On the ground a large pile of blackberry laden poo, this a Badger latrine reminding me of the time spent the previous evening watching one of these night-time creatures trundling along the path, the tails bobbing as it moved. I had been watching the Pipistrelle Bats coming out and flitting along the entrance road, while 2 Greater Horseshoe Bats were recorded over the downs, our first confirmed sightings for a number of years.
Along the coast a Rock Pipit called noisily then disappearing amongst the large lumps of Portland limestone, while a Peregrine Falcon flew westwards. On the water a single Shag, which after a while took off with what looked to be a great deal of effort almost running along the water to lift off.
A flock of Goldfinches called them landed in amongst the dead Teasels and Woolly Thistles, the sun highlighting the yellow wing flashes. Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Wren, Dunnock, Robin and Great and Blue Tits were also occupying a variety of vantage points around the Park.