Storm Bella has definitely left it’s mark across England this morning, with a wind gust of 62mph recorded at Durlston and 20.7mm of rain, which is a lot but not the most recorded this month. With a power cut across the Country Park, Durlston Castle will be CLOSED today. Seeing a Bat and a Tawny Owl on my dark walk to work I headed straight for the Woodland to check for wind blown trees and branches.
As the sun came up the rain trickled through the trees and the woodlands came alive with the morning bird song. The Song Thrush was my favourite today, heard from 4 different locations, its beautiful repetitive tune rang out across the Eastern side of the park. Long-tailed tits flitted around the Bay and Hawthorn, and a Wood Pigeon cooed from the above Holm Oak.
The sea within Durlston Bay was calm and just a gentle trickle of water lapping against the shore, looking to the East Peveril Ledges were making small waves across Swanage Bay and to the west the sea seemed much more fierce as it pounded around Durlston Head. A couple of Gannets and a Shag flew across the bay then disappeared around the corner, little did I know what was about to come.
4 Pigeons set flight and Squirrels were darting all around as the rain continued to drip through the thick Holm Oak trees. I am very glad I had my waterproofs and wellies on as I removed sticks and leaves from blocked drains and cleared branches from the accessible Tramper route.
Down on the cliffs the rain stopped and feeling slightly overdresses I peered through my binoculars to see the most spectacular scene. The ocean was full; 1000+ Guillemots and Razorbills, 100+ Gannets and 100+ Kittiwakes all heading west, it was the most amazing thing I have seen at Durlston. Watching intently and counting the best I could, I almost dropped my binoculars as a flock of Wood Pigeons flew only a feet or two over my head. On top of this Mediterranean Gull, Fulmar, 40+ Brent Geese, Great Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and probably a lot of other exciting things I might not of been able to identify. The Peregrine Falcon was also perched along the cliff top and flew in splendid style, as I watched it from afar.