Another quite magnificent morning to be out on the National Nature Reserve. The frozen ground crunchy underfoot and the sunshine providing a wonderful golden haze across the park.
Scuttling low amongst the scrub were 3 Wrens, these small birds whirring from one Blackthorn trunk to another, to perch like a small ball nestled amongst growth.
Gliding across the sky were 2 enormous looking Ravens, the long black wings flapping powerfully as they flew, croaking loudly as they went.
The back meadows in shade as I wandered along the paths, which added to the chilly northerly wind made me want to head for the hills, I did however stop to admire a small flock of 4 Meadow Pipits I disturbed as I went.
The views from the top of the downland fantastic, with the Isle of Wight a deep purple against the sun to the east and St Aldhelm’s Head glorious to the west.
On a patch of yellow-flowered Gorse was a Stonechat, the white collar and flashes on its wings catching the light, the dark head and orange breast easier to see out of silhouette. The second Stonechat was perched on the Bramble patch.
The cliffs almost empty of seabirds, except for a beautifully bottle-green coloured Shag, as I admired it through the binoculars the delicate feather structure showed as did its crest which was wafting gently in the slight breeze.
I passed Tilly Whim too early for the late rising Adders and then headed up the diagonal path where a family of Long-tailed Tits were hanging about in the Old Man’s Beard, these birds reminding me even more than usual, of lollipops as they were all fluffed up against the cold, round bodies on a long tail.
Around the car parks a Jay floated, the glimpse of pink and white as it moved, the Jackdaws cackled and a plump Wood Pigeon ‘cooed’ from the Holm Oak.