It was windy this morning with the maximum gust having been 34 mph recorded at ten past eight. So the leaf laden evergreen Holm Oaks betwixt Long Meadow and the coast path moved with the wind. There was a splendid array of pink-orange colours where the rising sun illuminated the cloud whilst a quarter crescent moon was also seen.
A pair of Carrion Crows sat rather nonchalantly in an Ash beside the “climbers” car park whilst I suspect they were five Linnets that passed over head. One grey brown Chestnut Slug wisely used the pedestrian crossing, albeit in the wrong orientation! Several “friendly” Robins put in an appearance, with the one beside the castle car park hopping amongst the bare but vivid red stems of Dogwood then into a Guelder Rose (no thorns) bush. Another, sought scraps of food from the floor of the castle bird feeder cage which had just been ravaged by a Grey Squirrel. All Robins seen today were singing under their breath, for why I knew not! Both Blue Tit and Great Tit remained beside the empty feeders which I planned to attend to later.
Near caravan terrace I inadvertently, but gradually, flushed ten Wood Pigeon. Durlston Bay was calm in comparison with the rolling white tipped waves beyond Durlston Head. The bay had a Lesser Black Backed Gull and a sea skimming Cormorant fly westward over it. Off the head another trio of Herring Gull appeared to be joined by three Lesser Black Backed Gulls (one being a juvenile) and three or four Fulmars were close to the cliffs. As storm Barbara developed two Gannets (north heading east) were brought closer to shore. We had a raft of forty Guillemots on the sea whilst another ninety crammed into the ledge whilst one Herring Gull had the seaward corner all to itself!
A reliable Blackbird appeared beside picnic benches and a pair of Magpies scoured the car park surface for human trinkets or food.