Looking over the newly cut meadows as I walked up to Durlston the fresh lush grass looked vivid as the morning sun shone on it. In the woods the over-powering sound of Herring Gulls gave way and the soft coo of a Wood Pigeon was a delightful sound. Sun beams were piercing through the thick clouds to the east where as to the west dark grey ominous clouds lurked in the distance.
High above, the tree canopy rustled with intent and a Blackbird chitted loudly from some lower covering. Chaffinch called and moved around the hedge-line where a dry stone wall is being restored. A beautiful Green Woodpecker landed on a large piece of Corsican Pine standing dead wood, gave it a few taps and not being suitable it flew over the Buddleia and down into Long Meadow.
At the Isle of Wight Road bridge I watched a Buzzard fly over Durlston Bay, in the distance the sun was now creating wafer thin rays as it shone through the cloud. Patches of Fuscia and Montbretia made lovely colour splashes along the coast path.
Over the Castle Jackdaws flew and Crickets sounded from within the taller grasses. Within a Sycamore the lovely sound of a Chiffchaff rang out, and on the ground a Blackbird searched around in the dry leaves. The woodland below the castle was quiet and still as I spotted a Roe Deer lower down. Down the diagonal path Stonechats chatted and a Whitethroat made its scratchy noise from a Hawthorn Tree. A Bay sapling was a brilliant autumnal red as it grew slowly up from below a larger Bay tree.
A group of Goldfinches flew over and hoovered around the centre, speaking to the bird ringers they had a small count 14 birds, including Willow and Garden Warbler, Greenfinch, Linnet and Grey Wagtails, while overhead a Sparrowhawk was seen.