What a lovely morning, with a slight chill in the air and glorious sunshine producing an almost golden glow across Durlston National Nature Reserve.
Overhead the long squeaking call of Bullfinches welcomed my arrival, after a careful study of the sky I was able to pick out these pink breasted finches, easier as they dipped lower before landing in the tops of an Elder tree.
This was quickly followed by a cackling sound, tracked down to the top of a Hawthorn where a Fieldfare was perched. The various grey tones of this, the largest of our thrushes, showing well as it picked a red berry off the branches.
Scattered elsewhere numerous other thrushes, mostly Blackbirds and Redwings, both have arrived from northern Europe. Last night the movement of Redwings could be clearly heard against the dark starry skies as they ‘seeped’ overhead.
Chaffinches, Linnets and Siskins all noted as I walked the meadows, while around the woodland were the tiny Goldcrests and a Firecrest (4 more were recorded by the Stour Ringing Group).
A sudden whoosh, the sound almost like a lorry load of shingle stone being emptied, but coming from the sky made me look upwards where a massive flock of 500+ Wood Pigeons passed over, the sound of their wings against the air quite different to the usual bird sounds. This groups part of over 3000 noted today, a number increasing as another flock of 50+ have just gone past the window!
Returning to ground level I spotted two Roe Deer standing perfectly still, almost invisible against the brown background of Blackthorn, Wild Clematis and Bramble, it was the twitch of an ear that caught my attention to start with. This male and female just staying where they were until I had passed by to then continue to browse.
The patch of orange Golden Eye Lichen growing from one single Blackthorn plant.