Simply glorious this morning, as the sun was streaming across the Country Park, providing a wonderful lighting effect.
As I was pulled towards the coast, I stopped to enjoy the antics of two Grey Squirrels who were back lit as they scampered and bickered around the large trunk of a Holm Oak, at times the sunlight shining through their ears and tail.
Lots of calling from the branches as a few Goldcrests nipped about and as is often the case a Firecrest also in attendance.
Overhead lots of birds to be heard, a constant twittering taking place, unfortunately for me they were high up in the blue sky meaning I couldn’t see them, although some were identifiable from their calls including Siskin, Redpoll, Brambling and Chaffinches.
A whirring of wings above the water brought my attention back down to watch a few Guillemots skimming above the sea, while on the ledges another 100+ were standing, some facing inwards, showing their dark backs others their white fronts as the faced outwards. On closer inspection the variety of plumages could be seen from thick white bands around their heads, to the complete brown of ‘breeding plumage’.
Perched on a rock outcrop was a Peregrine Falcon, this majestic bird facing me, its yellow beak and talons showing well as it stood, the occasional feather being ruffled by the gentle breeze.
Over the meadows a Kestrel hovered, the constant flickering of its wings always a joy to watch.
Reports (from Hamish) of a dashing Merlin, our smallest bird of prey added to the morning’s list.
Two Stonechats on the Gorse chatting amongst the yellow flowers, with Dunnock and Chiffchaff nearby.
As the Ivy was rambling over the top of a dry-stone wall, the pale yellow flowers were still attracting insects. A large Buff-tailed Bumble Bee was noisily buzzing, as was a Bluebottle fly and at least 4 different species of hoverfly, including the Drone Fly Eristalis tenax, the other species yet to be determined – there are over 40 different species found at Durlston!)
With the rain last night, the paths are once again turning muddy, now with a thin layer of slippery mud on top of the drier ground.