As the sun rose above the horizon, not a single cloud to spoil the view of the large deep red orb. Over a few minutes the red turned to orange and then onto yellow, just amazing.
From the woodland trees the sound of Goldcrests wafted down, the high pitched calling just heard above the whishing of the cold north-easterly wind, eventually I located these tiny birds in amongst the twigs of the Horse Chestnut. Disturbing the gentle peace was the eruption of a Green Woodpecker yaffling as it passed close by, followed soon after by the loud squawk of a Jay, the blue, pink and white feathers gorgeous in in early sunlight.
A sudden movement ahead of me, spotted through the trunks of the Sycamores and Ash, saw 3 Roe Deer, the second one smaller than the other two whose dirty white (or pale brown!) rumps flashed as they moved away.
Sweeping low to the ground then rising up and dashing forward was a Sparrowhawk, this brown bird of prey stealthily looking for some breakfast, but on this occasion to no avail. Despite that I had a good view of the fanned tail as it changed direction and the stripes across the feathers.
Out to sea just a single Gannet was spotted, the brilliant white wings gleaming and contrasting superbly with the black wing tips as it skimmed across the fairly flat water of Durlston Head.
Bounding over the dry-stone wall was a Fox, looking in good condition with a thick bushy tail, and it is was backlit by the sunshine a fantastic sight.
Even though the puddles are covered in a layer of ice and the ground crunchy with frost some flowers are in full bloom including Primroses and Daffodils in our more sheltered areas, and in the woods Spring Crocus while along the coast path Gorse is providing a large splash of yellow.
Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch and a male Pheasant.