Through the wildlife area fence I saw a beautifully laid hedge that had the work of Champion hedge layer and volunteer Con.
Having been brought up in the West Country I had come to take Buzzards for granted. However, my early days at Durlston saw Hamish and Robin running to identify a Buzzard. Today we do not include Buzzard on the bird checklist used by Dolphin Watchers, although they can occasionally be seen soring over Durlston Bay. Today even I spent considerable time studying a bird of prey from many angles to confirm that it was indeed a Buzzard. At first it was in a Sycamore near the Lighthouse Bridge with a Magpie and two Jackdaws perched above it. Indeed I had heard it calling before I saw it. I saw a brown bird with a “gravy stained white bib”.
Later I heard a commotion near the gully mouth, of harsh scratchy bird calls. I saw two Peregrine Falcons fly in a scythe like swoop low over the gully. However, they disappeared off to the sea cliffs. Later I saw that it was the Buzzard that the Peregrines had a verbal altercation with. The Buzzard simply sat in a Hawthorn such that I could confirm its identity.
Upon the wares I had a score of Thrush sized birds flew overhead which I immediately thought to be Fieldfares. I was delighted when they landed in the scrub to study them at rest. When something startled them the set off with “chack-chack-chack” calls.
A good forty Jackdaws were upon the wares either on the ground amongst the cattle or of the dozen at rest upon the overhead wires. They were joined by a trio of small birds which I followed and established were Meadow Pipits. They were easier to view when upon the ground amongst the cow pats.
From the Goat Plot I had the briefest glimpse of one Guillemot as it flew out to sea. Ravens were seen and heard as were Jays, Great Tits, Robins and Blackbirds of course. A light breeze was heard whistling through the mile marker post when I was within ten metres of it. Today I counted seventeen of the thirty four Herford cattle whom seem to have a favourite defecating spot near the quarr. The cattle are having a good impact on the sward which will be followed upon by our resident Rabbits. I returned to the office to discover I had besewn wearing two hats throughout my patrol!