A quite stunning morning here at Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve, definitely worth making the effort.
The fields were a crispy white, the individual grass leaves enshrined in a fine covering of frozen water crystals that crunched underfoot, looking across this landscape the faint mist was rising as well.
Browsing along the edge of the meadow were 2 Roe Deer, their large ears twitching, it was only their white rumps which made them stand out the rest of their brown fur colour blending very well with the Bracken and Blackthorn.
The sound of Woodpeckers disrupted my thoughts as a Green Woodpecker flew across the sky, moving in its typical undulating way yelling its yaffle call as it went. Towards a patch a woodland the drumming sound of a Great Spotted Woodpecker tapping against the tree added to the soundscape.
A piping call attracted my attention as two brown birds emerged from the field, these being Skylarks, as I watched one of them flew a little higher and began to sing. Such a beautiful song filling the air and the definitive highlight of a gorgeous morning. As I stood and listened to the Skylark, Great Tits a Robin and a Song Thrush were adding to the noise but only as background!
Towards the downland Blue Tits were prospecting the dry-stone walls for suitable holes in which to make a nest, flitting in and out of small cracks left during the walls construction.
Through my binoculars I swept along the scrub, looking for more wildlife and hiding amongst the bushes were 3 Magpies, their black and white plumage surprisingly difficult to see, also 3 Wood Pigeons and a Carrion Crow. From nearby came the tumbling song of a Chaffinch, who was perched on the uppermost twig of an Elder bush.
Climbing on one of the old Black Pines was a Nuthatch, the slate blue back catching my eye as it moved around the tree and out of sight.
On my way to do a quick check on the Hereford Cattle a Fox trotted in front, the sunlight highlighting the bright rusty colour.