A glorious sunrise greeted my patrol around Durlston Country Park, as I enjoyed the early morning the sun crept up wards providing a brilliant orange swathe across the land.
Through the trees a scampering of a Grey Squirrel could be heard as it waved along the thin branches of the Sycamore, upon looking up the wispy lengths if its fur were highlighted by the sun’s rays making it look as if it were glowing orange around the outside!
Down to the cliffs were the steady chug of a small fishing boat could be heard as it checked its pots for lobsters and crabs.
In flight a couple of Fulmars, gliding on their stiff wings around the cliffs while on the water as group of 12 Guillemots, all in perfect chocolate brown breeding plumage.
From the Tilly Whim end of the path I was able to look back along the Purbeck rocks to see the mass of hundred plus Guillemots on the ledge, a general murmur of nose coming from them. A sudden increase in this sound indicated some more unusual activity which turned out to be a Raven perching on the rock peering down at these much smaller birds.
The tinkling of Goldfinches as they landed in the soft fronds of a large Tamarisk captured my attention, the gold markings lit up as were the blue caps of 3 Blue Tits which were also using this old exotic plant to find food.
The squeak of a Bullfinch noted near the car parks, where amongst the Bramble two of these glorious birds sat.
Despite the bright sunshine and almost spring like feel the movement of 5 Fieldfare along my sight line reminded me that it was in fact winter, the chuckling call very distinctive, as was the squawk of a Jay and the yaffle of a Green Woodpecker.
A splash of orange from the Stinking Iris berries at the bottom of the hedgerow and the slight tinge of pink from the Japanese Spindle berries amongst the waxy leaves was accompanied by the glow of yellow from a few of the Gorse bushes.