The changing light was amazing today, every time we looked through the trees, across the meadows or out to sea it was different. From a deep thick dark grey sky prominent against the bright glistening blue sea, to a solid approaching cloud of wet drizzle.
A greeting this morning by a Robin, Blackbird and Great Tit hopping around by the edge of Long Meadow. The Blackbird busy picking worms from the soil. A female Chaffinch and a Dunnock were also within the hedge line.
Now I have finally identified my mystery tree, which turned out to be a Horse Chestnut, I can now admire its sticky buds just starting to flower. The black and white flicker from the Magpie was seen in abundance today as were the unmistakable call of the Great Tits and Blue Tits.
Looking up through the tree canopy of the woodland the Sycamore was silhouetted against the bright sun shining through a thick cloud of grey. Puddles and streams galore today, some not where they should be. With Katie at my heels I could hear her having her own fun splashing through the puddles, until she misjudged the depth and by her reaction wet soaks were imminent. As we gazed out to sea Katie saw a Buzzard weaving along the tops of trees around Durlston Bay, her best sighting apparently, probably because I missed it!
Looking west an ominous wall of rain was fast approaching and within seconds we were hit by hundreds of drops coming through the Holm Oak, creating a fine murmuring sound like a rain stick, a musical instrument I made as a child. A Wood Pigeon perched hiding under the Black Pine on the cliff. With a small carpet of Primroses at our feet, now quite battered by the heavy rain, Caravan terrace was the perfect place to Stop, Look, Listen & Breathe
Along the Coast Path four Fulmers were circling in and out of the cliffs, a Shag flew low over the water and landed on the edge of the cliff and a Greater Black Backed Gull paraded close at eye level. Six Razorbills joined about 20 Guillemots bravely bobbing on the sea as the waves crashed over them. Our eyes moved quickly as we heard a pair of Peregrines flying high above.