A wonderful morning out on Durlston Country Park this morning, with bright blue sky, a chill in the air and the twittering of small birds overhead.
Hundreds and hundreds of Goldfinches the main feature of the wander along the clifftop, the constant tinkling as they went over accompanied by the flashing of their yellow wings feathers as they caught the sunshine.
Around Tilly Whim a couple of Rock Pipits piped, but the calls of Meadow Pipits were more noticeable as they too flew over, one group landed on the short downland turf allowing me a good view.
A buzz of a flock of Siskins altered my to more activity overhead where Pied Wagtails were also on the move, all of these birds following the coastline as they moved eastward.
Amongst the fronds of the Tamarisk Great Tits were calling and Blue Tits were also flitting, while from a small patch of Blackthorn came the sudden burst of a Wren, not spotted until the pale wings bars changed the colour image.
A flutter from behind me as I climbed the hill and a Bullfinch was passing between the clumps of Old Man’s Beard, white rump and sighing squeak making for easy identification.
As I watched a Painted Lady butterfly took flight from the remains of the Wild Carrot flower patch, and a Buff-tailed Bumble Bee loudly buzzed as it searched for nectar amongst the few remaining flowers. By the cliffs a Clouded Yellow and a Red Admiral butterfly as well.
The call of a Green Woodpecker and the deep croak of a Raven, mixed with the cackling of Jackdaws added to the morning’s soundscape.
Coming back towards the centre a huge Badger latrine was spotted amongst the long grass, full of Sloe stones and Blackberry pips.
Near the Castle a Lizard on the wall