Happy New Year and welcome to Durlston for the start of 2017!
Not surprisingly there was plenty of Robin and Blackbird activity today along path edges. One Robin was busily preening beside the Reynolds Bench, fluffing up its feathers then shaking itself dry. The feather like branches and needles of Tamarisk were decorated with water droplets. Plump Woodpigeons sat in bare Sycamore and Ash trees. Meanwhile the evergreen Holm Oak and Ivy leaves dripped water droplets occasionally some stronger water falls perhaps caused by a gust of wind.
Durlston Bay was relatively calm although white waves lapped the shore. Odd clumps of Pampas grass near the shore indicated how these “garden” species had migrated downslope through past land slips. As I a scanned the shore for bird life all I saw was one vividly coloured piece of plastic debris! At first I was sure it was lesser Black Backed Gulls that were flying west-ward but certainly there were Greater Black Backed Gulls too. Today’s highlights were on the coast with one hundred Guillemots huddled onto their ledge, whilst a braver forty were rafted upon the sea, only one did I hear “gurgling”.
On the cliff top within metres of the coast path sat a Peregrine Falcon keeping an eye on both me and sea birds before hopping to a lower perch. This action coincided with the call of an Oystercatcher which flew eastward. I had clear views of the Peregrine’s hooked beak, piercing eyes and the yellow facial markings on an otherwise slate grey bird. Julian Sawyer had previously reported a pair Peregrine’s apparently working together. One flew out to sea towards the sun whilst the other flew up and down the cliff and called and sent cliff top birds to flight. The off shore Peregrine then came hurtling back to land under the sun's glare so to pick off a bird sent up by its partner. Mr. Haysom and friends had seen a pair of Peregrine’s this morning as well as a Sparrow-hawk. Further out to sea a Gannet headed east whilst several Cormorants we active both upon sea and air.
From reservoir copse came the waffle of a Green Woodpecker whilst above South Field a Raven croaked whilst in flight. Goldfinches accompanied by Blue Tits and Great Tits appeared in the car park scrub edges.