Upon arrival I was greeted by a chattering charm of Goldfinches perched in trees including Ash beside the car park. In a Buddleia, beside an ice-free wildlife pond a Blue Tit called out whilst a Chaffinch sang from an Ash tree.
In south field I thought I heard the call of a Buzzard from somewhere near the small copse. It was the waffle of a Green Woodpecker that rang out from near reservoir copse. The sun cast my shadow towards the Small Copse in South Field.
On the Isle of Wight, they already had Blackthorn in blossom, here at Durlston it is only Cherry Plum which provides such a blooming delight. A “false” blossom of Lichen decorated a neighbouring Blackthorn.
Today Rabbits were seen near the centre, in South Field and below the gully rock face. In between grazing the munching mammals gave tail flashes when moving. Fortunately, I could see the Hereford Cattle in the distance still in Jack Baiss Meadow, prior to returning to the “new land”. In a shaded spot beside the hedgerow a patch of frost coated the grass near Small Copse. A trio of Wrens were having a trilling “sound off” on the Common Wares.
I discovered a small patch of flowering Narcissi over the coastal dry-stone wall above Tilly Whim.
Above an empty Guillemot cave perched a Peregrine Falcon, below which perched a Great Black Back Gull and Herring Gull respectively. A raft of some eighty birds were upon the sea of which at least eight were Razorbills.
Either I saw a fight or a mating exchange between a pair of Dunnock amongst the Hawthorn near Ron’s Rest bench beside the diagonal path. At the top of the path I was just in time to see and hear a Jay before it disappeared deep into the woodland cover.
Katie, with determination spotted five Adders above Tilly Whim steps, none of which I saw despite looking!