My route today took me across the soggy meadows, the clay near the surface oozing water providing mud and streams all over.
Above me two Kestrels were having a slight altercation, each attempting to bomb the other, this last only a few attempts before they split off into opposite directions, the gorgeous chestnuts backs catching the early morning sunlight as they flew.
Along the base of the hedgerow (comprising Bramble, Hawthorn and Blackthorn) were the bright orange berries of Stinking Iris, a very distinctive triangular shape pod alongside the tall thick smelly leaves.
On the ground in the woods the slightly pink flowers of Winter Helitrope poke up erect from the large green leaves of this plant. Spotted amongst these leaves was a Blackbird, turning the detritus underneath over on search of morsels of invertebrates for breakfast.
Up onto the downs, where I was checking on the herd of Hereford Cattle, all of which seemed to the happily munching on the long tufts of grass and crashing through the scrub. The regular contact moos heard across the Park.
From a tangled patch of wispy white Wild Clematis emerged a Bullfinch, the brilliant pink chest initially seen followed by the white rump and it flew further up the gully.
The lighting on the sea drawing me to the clifftops where the Guillemots were once again packed onto the main ledge – at least 150 squashed together. The numbers of these auks has increased in the last 20 years here, may be part of the reason for their being on the ledges more often in the winter as they need to make sure their favoured breeding territory remains under their feet.
The Jackdaws were tumbling and acrobatically playing along the rock edge, calling their name as they flew, they are always a fun bird to watch.
Returning past Durlston Castle (open today 10-4pm, but closed Christmas and Boxing Days) was a Goldcrest in amongst the Elms.