A damp start to the day, with Woodpigeon clattering by overhead, beneath a featureless grey sky.
Leaves tumble along the paths in the woodland, filling the air with a wonderful smell of autumn. Among the sheltered branches, the bright yellow ‘mohicans’ of a flock of Goldcrests catch my eye among the dark branches, with Coal Tit, Blue and Great Tit and Long-tailed Tits in the same patch of Sycamore and Holm Oak.
Another pleasing splash of colour above Caravan Terrace, where a crimson breasted Bullfinch hops in and out the scrub with soft ‘hoots’.
A flock of 20 or so Jackdaws squabble noisily above the slopes of Durlston Bay, before uniting to chase off a Raven.
In the Lighthouse Field, our cows are busy munching their way through the Tor Grass- helping keep this field not only one of the most diverse wildlflower areas on the park, but also in the whole of the UK. Halfway down the milepost slope, the heads of 4 young calves all pop out of the same Gorse bush to watch me pass!
In the shelter of the Gully, Blackcaps weave among the tangle of Old Man’s Beard, with a glimpse of a Sparrowhawk, barrelling along, sending a chorus of alarm calls up from the scrub.
Once again, the ledges are packed with Guillemots, ‘touching base’ before returning to sea. One of my favourite winter sights (unseen during breeding season) is the growing wave of birds flowing down from the ledge as they fly out, first in ones and twos then in greater numbers until the ledge is empty.
Also seen along the cliffs, Gannet, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Shag.
Not much movement overhead, except for a few Linnets and scattered flocks of Chaffinches – it seems most birds are keeping their heads down this morning!