A Green Woodpecker flew with its undulating flight away from the Centre as I arrived upon this cold but frost free morning. Upon my departure a low reverberating fog horn like sound came from a metal bollard as the breeze blew through its hole. An empty bird’s nest occupied branch tips within a pair of Sallow trees arching over the castle woods path.
Durlston Bay contained a few pot markers and one diving Shag whilst a Magpie reliably occupied a Sycamore beside the Noon bench. Towards Durlston Head at least eight Long-Tailed Tits flitted about in the Tamarisk. However, the appearance of a Peregrine Falcon resulted in the small birds calling, then disappearing into denser tree cover on the seaward side of the coast path. The falcon took advantage of a thermal to climb in a spiral before moving on. However, I was soon to see the Peregrine again on the clifftop west of the Observation Point. The bird flew east beyond the Durlston Head, however, scanning westward I found a second Peregrine sitting on the sea cliffs above the vacant Guillemot cave. Eventually I got within metres of the predator such that I had clear views of its yellow eye ring and sharp hooked beak. We both exchange glances but the bird held its ground.
There were several passes of Greater Black Backed Gulls such that I stopped counting them as I suspected they were circulating. Likewise I found Shags were seen to fly both east and west along the coast, although one flew over the castle whilst another was at eye level along the cliff top.
There were signs of nocturnal Badger activity indicated by small excavations near The Globe. As the golden sun rose above the cloud filter two Wrens appeared out of the Ivy clad scrub. The Ivy acted as a cape upon otherwise bare Elder, and provided pea like fruits for the birds.
When I joined the score of Hereford cattle (that I could see) upon the wares I felt the wind’s full icy coldness. Upon turning over a slab of Purbeck stone I was delighted and surprised to find a small dark brown caterpillar curled up and still alive. The breeze was heard whistling through the mile marker.
Just as I passed the walling centre I sent up at least ten Fieldfares from the scrub. They went in spurts in different directions only to gather again westwards amongst quieter scrub cover.