Near the Wildlife Area a Kestrel hovered with steady wing movements only later to been seen again near Long Meadow. A single Carrion Crow perched upon and pecked at an Ant Hill beside an ice free wildlife pond. Exploring the base of the castle walls was a lone Dunnock, whilst Grey Squirrels scuttled in numbers about the castle approaches. A trio of Jays squawked noisily from amongst the adjacent Holm Oak, a pair of which were seen and heard again near the Goat Plot.
I was most surprised when a Little Egret flew past heading west along the cliff tops. However, a Peregrine Falcon perched somewhere near and above the Guillemot cave was less of a surprise. Yet, as I looked westward at the falcon I spied a second further along perched above Tilly Whim ledge. Together, as both falcon faced each other, they had full visual coverage of a cliff top section. Interestingly when I later scanned the cliffs and looked eastward through the binoculars it blended in perfectly with the sea cliff backdrop. On the sea below was a small raft of five preening Guillemots whilst near forty occupied the ledge cave.
One pair of Great Black Back Gulls were upon a lower ledge near Durlston Head, two Shag flew past eastwards. Robins, Wren, Blackbirds and Great Tits were seen and heard fleetingly from amongst the scrub.
At the foot of the diagonal path I found cattle hoof prints and a relatively fresh cow pat! I found the castle fenced out of the goat plot as one had apparently escaped yesterday to explore the diagonal path. Upon the wares a score of Herford Cattle clustered near the Small Copse, enjoying the fresh grazing they had recently been released upon.
Upon a shaded section of Lighthouse Road an evergreen Viburnum displayed several white five petal flowers! Plenty of Wild Madder berries were seen upon the coast path slopes. Occasional Daisies were seen upon the grassland.
Near Ron’s Rest Bench I found a pebble which had been painted to resemble a SHARK!