Another wet misty morning, waterproofs and wellies yet again put on I head out. Down the path towards the carpark, a charm of 4 Goldfinch emerges from the hedge along the toilets block and come to land in the Hawthorn, a couple head to some Stinking Iris to poke around for breakfast. Two Great Tits join the Goldfinch, hopping amongst the branches. Grape Hyacinths pride a splash of colour to the dull morning, in full bloom with bright purple flowers along the path. In the car park a Robin eats a worm it recently caught for breakfast.
The sound of bird song floats up from the dell, though the birds themselves are hard to spot sheltering from the rain. Amongst the chorus, Robins, Wrens, and Great Tits can be heard as well as a Chiffchaff. A Wren pops out from its hiding place in some Bramble and stands atop a long tail wagging in the air to sing its song.
In the large tree towards the bottom of the steep path approximately 10 Wood Pigeons roost, as I approach, they all erupt as one from their perches and head over Durlston Bay. On the wall below a Dunnock seems to watch me as I approach only retreating a few feet behind the wall to a Blackthorn or watch me pass. Amongst the scrub on the slope down to the water a Chiffchaff darts from one patch to another in quick succession, before disappearing into a Blackthorn.
On the water below the glass observation point lots of Guillemots sit on the water all in one long raft. Fulmars are noticeable thanks to their absence though three do appear as I head further round the path.