A change in the weather for my early morning walk, with a chill in the air, dark foreboding clouds followed by a drizzly rain! – not what I was becoming used to.
Down to the clifftops, where there was nothing on the upper ledge, and only a few Guillemots scattered across the water with 4 Razorbills to be seen amongst them, the much darker colouration making them stand out in the gloom.
Soaring around the tops of the rock face a couple of Fulmars, always worth just watching these amazing birds. From the west, coming over my head were 3 Cormorants, two all dark the other pale bellied.
Singing from around Tilly Whim was a Rock Pipit, the bird fluttering down as it sang, while perched on the top of the yellow flowered, coconut smelling Gorse was a Stonechat, whose white neck ring and pale orange front gave away its identification before it started to call.
All across Durlston flowers are popping up, with many fields showing the yellow heads of Cowslips, just the start of their April show. The hedgerows are more diverse at present with the tall dark pinky-purple Honesty alongside the vivid blue of the Green Alkanet, lower down Primroses provide a pale yellow and Daffodils and Early Forget-me-nots at to the palette. The Blackthorn hedges are now looking magnificent, covered in a white blossom.
A single patch of Polyanthers spotted in the woods while the, leaves of Lord and Ladies, Three-corned Leek and Ramsons are covering the ground.
In the gully Chiffchaffs were calling, as were Chaffinches, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Great Tits and Blue Tits. A chorus of birdsong accompanying my stroll despite the rain.
A sudden squawk alerted me to a Jay, which then flew off silently, completely different to the Wood Pigeons which make louds of noise clapping their wings as they took flight from the Sycamore.
Across the gully a delicate yellow of the pussy willow which is covering the Willows brought these trees to my attention, while a ‘new’ Horse Chestnut was noted now it has opened it leaves. In this tree a Kestrel was perched.