Today dawned sunny, with a hue of golden pink shining across Durlston. This encouraged me to wander to the cliffs where a few flocks of Gulls were flying and circling above the water. The flock consisted of mostly Herring Gulls of various ages, a couple of juvenile Great Black-backed Gulls as well as Mediterranean Gull and a few Black Headed Gulls.
I was hoping that the flock of gulls would indicate the presence of Dolphins, but unfortunately not this morning, although a pod of 7 or so were seen yesterday afternoon.
Overhead the steady flow of small groups of migrants, with the finches including Goldfinch, Linnet, Redpoll, Siskin, Chaffinch and Brambling, plus a couple of Grey Wagtails.
In the distance the sound of a load of Purbeck stone being delivered to be used to repair and add to the walls in the woodland. Over the top of this sound was the tearing of air as a flock of 50+ Wood Pigeons passed over. On the wall a Black Redstart was perched.
A splash of deep red on the edge of an old quarr dip turned out to be Cotoneaster, the berries providing the colour and a good food source for the birds but these plants need careful management to ensure they don’t take over as they can be very invasive.
Onto the meadows to see the Hereford cattle who were grazing contently the sun shining on their ginger backs. In the hedgerow a couple of Redwings pulled berries off the twigs of the Hawthorn while a Robin perched alongside ‘ticking’ loudly, not sure whether it was territorial, warning or contact calling.
Around the corner a Roe Deer was bounding across the path, its large white powder-puff rump flashing as it jumped.
A very handsome male Bullfinch was sitting on the branches of the Elm tree.