The sky over Durlston today held a myriad of bright blues interjected with soft amber hues that brought about a truly autumnal feel. The horizon was smudged along the sea scape with such delicacy that it could have been orchestrated by the skilled hands of an artist.
I dipped quickly in to the Hide to watch a male and female Chaffinch squabbling over prime place upon the feeder, wings beating frantically in contest for a tasty peanut treat. It seemed to be a prime day for competition as two Wood pigeons burst from the sequestered depth of scrub to race across the woodland. The only thing that was missing was the crack of a starter pistol and an old school announcer crooning: “And there off!”
Into the small copse amongst the dull green floor of Ivy, razor sharp Bramble and Stinking iris, Squirrels acrobatically clawed their way up the trunks of Ash and Horse Chestnut, nimbly balancing and leaping between the branches. Magpies cackled their mocking calls while the small yet mighty Wren commanded the sky with its shrill tones. As I walked through Saxon I gave the Hereford Cows a gruff ‘Good morning’ as I had still not forgiven them for their insolence over the weekend and preferred to concentrate on a pair of Jackdoors who were stalking through the grass like a pair of Commandos searching for enemy.
Elsewhere Swarms of Goldfinches shone in the early morning sun while a chocolate coloured female Blackbird picked through the leaves for a tasty meal and a Robin frolicked amongst the leaves of a Tamarisk bush. Down by the coast Great Black backed gulls preened themselves while Guillemots bobbed up and down amongst the gentle waves. I was startled by a deafening shriek from the second fastest Falcon in existence (after the Millennium of course) a Peregrine Falcon sped fiercely after a lone Jackdoor who initially attempted to fight but ultimately conceded defeat and retreated to the safety of the cliff.