Welcome to March! Spring is appearing, although you might see more flowers away from Durlston at this time! Two Hen Pheasants were in the wildlife garden accompanied by much Great Tit and Blue Tit activity. A pair of Long Tailed Tits visited the fat ball feeders whilst a Chaffinch scoured the ground. A visit to the Cherry Plum revealed over forty white blossoms open. Beside the castle walls fresh leaves of Valerian and Wild Bay Willowherb were evident. From the Dell Bridge I could just see Old Harry with mist beyond. The terrace had many more Primroses in flower with fresh Buddleia leaves emerging from coppiced regrowth. One Hawkbit yellow flower bloomed and the foot of the rock face. Five Jackdaws flew over the castle, I then set up a pair of Magpies beside the FoD seat. A Woodpigeon cooed soothingly in the background as a Robin chatted near the kiosk (reopening 11th March!).
From the observation point a pair of Great Black Backed Gulls perch above a Fulmar on the cliff face. The Fulmars were most active rosing up above the coast path and skimming over the see, becoming dizzying to watch. Eventually four Fulmars were in flight whilst Feral Doves and Jackdaws flitted about. The Raven duo were initially seen about Tilly Whim, however, they gradually progressed along the sea cliff face, pausing on the way. The sea cave was empty whist sixteen Guillemots and four Razorbills rafted upon the sea. One Shag flew low over the sea past the spot where another had just dived from. Meanwhile the coaster Whitchampion headed west, relatively close in, perhaps due to the mist. Near Tilly Whim there was a spray of white feathers on the cliff edge hinting at a recent Peregrine kill. Hamish reported a Black Redstart and the Pied Wagtails amongst his sightings.
On the gully slopes I saw a bird flying relatively close to ground which was undoubtably a predator. Was it a Kestrel or perhaps a Sparrowhawk? Luckily it stopped and perched on a Hawthorn. Its striped breast and eye marking revealed it to be a Peregrine Falcon in an unusual location! Near its resting point was indeed more feathers! Meanwhile, I spotted a purple flower of a Hairy Violet amongst sward peppered with limestone. My next flower was tiny and could have been mistaken for scatter ashes or tiny snail shell fragments. On the seaward side of the road opposite the quarr this was Bittercress which I also found on an Ant Hill.