This morning’s patrol was accompanied by the sound of birds calling and attempting to sing. From the woodland the almost see-saw song of a Great Tit was wafting through the air, while the loud alarm call of a Wren emerged from a clump of Bramble, after watching for a while the odd movement of a branch allowed this small brown bird to be seen.
The white rump disappearing into the Blackthorn was that of a Bullfinch, the pink chest spotted as it turned upon landing.
Off down to the cliff top where over the sea the sun had just risen above the low layer of cloud, providing a wonderful orange- pink colour across Durlston.
While looking over the tall sea wall a sudden eruption of cackling Jackdaws drew my eyes skyward just in time to see the large bulky body of the female Peregrine Falcon chase and just miss capturing one of these small cliff nesting crows. The ability of these birds to jink about enabled it to evade the outstretched talons of the Peregrine.
As we watched the rest of the group of about 40 joined up together and a second Peregrine – a smaller male, soared alongside the first. Then higher in the sky a different shaped bird of prey was spotted – wider wings longer tail and this was a Sparrowhawk.
On the water the Guillemots were again gargling loudly while amongst them were 3 Razorbills, all still in their white-faced winter non-breeding plumage, while all but one of the Guillemots were in their brown-faced summer plumage.
Flitting over the cliff wall was a Rock Pipit a quick high pitched call made as it disappeared.
On the front of the downs a Roe Deer was standing, this one of our residents looking straight at me, the large ears of this female twitching as I watched.