As I stepped out of the car a pair of Robins arrived about my feet, perhaps hoping for a feed? Walking towards long meadow a few fine slow flakes were blown in the wind. Whilst the recent clifftop view at the sea ward end of the new path was excellent, boy did it let a freezing blast of wind in! The view revealed Gannets flying about Durlston Bay for a change.
Before the timeline both a Robin and a Wren flittered between the walls Cock & Hen capstones. Holm Oak leaves were shaken from branches by the wind. Dry, fallen leaves did not escape the winds tickling! Thirty Daffodils bloomed at the castle entrance. From Seventh Wave terrace I peeked through binoculars and was amazed at what I finally saw at Caravan Terrace. On closer inspection I saw the dripping rock face with icicles several feet long. Below them were glass like globules of ice. A true winter wonderland landscape! Nearby a few Primrose flowers were only glimpsed due to a carpet of leaves.
As intended the whisps of one Old Man's Beard seed pod drifted in the wind. A few Mexican Daisy flowers grew out of the castle walls as did leaves of Valerian. Below the sea chart the upright and slender stems of Elm wiggled in the wind. Adjacent leaf ladened Holm Oaks moved far more vigorously as my feet crunch on the gravel to the observation point. Here a duo of Jackdaws rose to the clifftops whilst a Shag headed out to sea below. It was a pair of Shags that flew east passing over raft of some fifty Guillemots and several Razorbills that rode the swell. Waves crashed into the cliffs a sprayed onto Tilly Whim ledge. Tamarisk branches clattered in the wind and Teasel stems wiggled. The dense ground hugging Gorse clumps wobbled jelly like. Anvil Point Lighthouse winked its lamp whilst a Rock Pipit called beside the gully mouth steps. The wind wailed through the overhead wires as a Blackbird disappeared into cover near a Holly bush. A few Woodpigeon feathers, having broken tips, suggested interaction with a Fox. Calling as it flew, a solo Carrion Crow passed over the gully. On lighthouse green a remaining dried out Dwarf Thistle head showed a washed-out orange.
Yesterday I received data from Dorset Bat Group’s Anabat device which had been placed near the Aviaries Glade. It indicated the presence of Long Eared, Natterers, Bechsteins, Greater Horseshoe, Serotine, Noctule and Pipistrelle Bats last year!