This morning was rather windy, although, I doubt it was the wind which had carried a dry cow pat to the Centre vicinity. I did see a Whitethroat near the walling centre transporting a faecal sack away from the nest!
Beside the castle the Holm Oak squeaked like a gate in the wind. As the Sycamore had come into leaf the woodland canopy was seen to be gradually closing over. Whilst the bare Daffodil stems had flattened, the Three Cornered Leak stood proud in flower. A Great Tit perched cautiously on the open door of castle bird feeder cage before it entered and took one sunflower seed. Although the feeder was filled on Friday it will shortly need refilling!
Around caravan terrace I finally heard some bird song if only competing Robins and a Blackbird whilst overhead a Jackdaw transported a twig. Between coast path and dry stone wall nature filled a cleared space with the unravelling fronds of Bracken. Durlston Bay had quite a swell with waves breaking upon the shore and about Durlston Head. Moving against the waves in the sea was a lone Shag. One Fulmar appeared in the bay whilst a dozen Guillemots were seen heading west round the head returning from a fishing trip perhaps? Off shore from the Globe I believe it was a score of Shearwater heading east later followed by five Gannet, the last of which had predominantly black wings (last year’s young).
Sea Campion had opened its white flowers upon the cliff tops. Below it “belts” of Sea Kelp and other seaweed were seen adrift detached from their anchors by the swell. After observing my first raft of fifteen preening Guillemots I just caught sight of a Peregrine Falcon disappearing out of sight over the cliff edge. It later returned from below calling as it came soaring up high and then was gone! Whilst at least three Fulmar we on the wing I believe I saw one sat on a ledge with a cushion of vegetation. Half way up a rock face a rosette of Thrift leaves showed determination for survival. Whist wave crashed and sprayed at the gully mouth ledges, the mile marker panels occasionally vibrated in the wind. Upon the shelter of the coast path a Bloody-nosed Beetle larvae explored just as the adult might