The golden sun was rising above the horizon while overhead a Raven drifted across the sky, the large black figure showing against the blue sky.
Although a little quieter for small birds migrating than some mornings still a good selection to be heard and seen.
The list included at least 20 Bramblings and some Chaffinches, these finches both fairly similar in looks have very different calls. Also over 40 Siskins, 30 Redpolls and lots of Linnets.
Many of these were just passing over but groups of Goldfinches regularly landing amongst the twigs of the Brambles and Hawthorn scrub.
Dashing behind a couple of these groups of migrants was a Merlin, our tiniest bird of prey looking to catch some breakfast.
As the end of October arrives so do the start of the pigeon movements, groups of 50+ Wood Pigeons clapped as they past over while a flock of 30 Stock Doves was also spotted.
Down by the cliffs our first returning Guillemots or the ‘winter’ but strangely only 2 were spotted, they usually arrive in hundreds or not at all. But there was also a Razorbill seen at Swanage Pier last weekend.
Passing by in the distance was a small skein of 7 Brent Geese, the shape and colour making for an easy identification.
As I perched and waited on a bench, around me the bushes came to life, with the rambling twines of Old Man’s Beard being used by a flock of Long-tailed Tits to hang from and tumble about. In the adjacent Blackthorn 3 Firecrest and some Goldcrests were flitting, these tiny birds flashing their crests in the sunshine.
A Blackcap, Wrens, Great Tits and Blue Tits, plus a noisy squawking Jay and a yaffling Green Woodpecker completed my spots for the morning.