A glorious early morning to be at Durlston with spring sunshine warming up my walk.
Down to the coast path to contemplate path works for the rest of the week but my eyes and mind were distracted by the sight and sound of a Peregrine Falcon calling loudly as it floated past. The dark slate grey back and swept back wings making it such an easily recognisable bird in those circumstances.
As it moved out across the water my eye was attracted to the glorious long gleaming white wings of a Gannet. Three of these superb seabirds were gliding low to the water, one occasionally rising up and round to show all aspects of its plumage including the pale yellow head and black wing tips – just magnificent.
On the water a single Guillemot, another group of 20 or so flying further offshore, otherwise the ledges empty for another day.
Along at Tilly Whim the sun has brought the Adders out to bask, 4 large females stretched out across the bare rock and short grass, their two-tone brown colouration blending in well with the background.
The smell of coconut (or Malibu), was wafting across the air from the mass of brilliant yellow flowering Gorse. Hopping amongst the prickles of this pea flower was a Wren the stumpy brown body perched tail erect.
A sudden burst of song from by the lighthouse, was a Rock Pipit as it fluttered upwards and then descended down, wings held out and back as it performed its display flight – which always reminds me of a mini umbrella.
Flying past croaking loudly was a Raven, this huge black bird then disappeared over the hill.
A few flowers now in bloom include an odd Cowslips, lots of Primroses, Dog Violets, Daisy and a few Lesser Celandines.
The leaves are beginning to burst out of the Sycamore and the Hawthorn buds while the Ash are still firmly shut.
The almost continual ‘plinky-plinky’ call of a Great Tit filling the air as you walk around the park, along with the churr of Blue Tits and in the woods the high pitched call of a few Goldcrests.