Upon arrival it was the waffle of a Green Woodpecker that I first heard. I then went to inspect the remnants of yesterday’s bonfire where I had help from thirteen young people from Swanage Duke of Edinburgh’s Award group. They had made good progress clearing a scrub which hid a collapsed section of dry stone wall through which cattle had escaped / entered South Field.
Tree trunk and branches creaked and rubbed in the wind. Some five Blackbirds scuttled low beneath the castle woodland whilst a Grey Squirrel occupied the castle birdfeeder. Only a Herring Gull soared above a rough Durlston Bay. At Durlston Head I felt the full force of the wind, however, it eased as I rounded the corner. Hoping along the coastal drystone wall below the Globe was a Robin.
The most interesting sea birds observations today was that of Shag activity. At least five such birds were seen, a pair flew together low over the water rounding the head. Three flew high over the castle to then fly westward along the clifftops. I had several views of Shag at cliff top level. Two Guillemots were seen flying east whilst only a diving Shag upon the swell was seen below the Guillemot cave ledge. A Greater Black Back Gull was seen in flight with bent wing tips being buffeted by the wind. Looking onto the sea down from the Observation Point sea foam globules float up like a weather balloon. From the right perspective I saw the wind creating sea spray that looked like windblown sand. A score of Feral Pigeon flew up from the gully mouth whilst today only three Jackdaw were seen to fly from inland to disappear below the cliff tops.
At the gully, below the Lighthouse the grassy slope was clear of Bramble and Blackthorn regrowth thanks to cattle grazing and recent brush-cutter work. I discovered what I can only describe as undulating pancake like gill fungi near what I suspected were the remnants of a dry stone wall.
Not unusually, as I ended my patrol with the sun higher in the sky more bird sound could be heard!