Driving up Lighthouse Road I scattered a mischief of half a dozen Magpies. I arrived to cloudy, overcast but dry conditions. Initially I could see the urban coast, but soon it disappeared, possibly under rainfall. The weather and the fact I only had 2 sheets in my notepad led to limited sightings.
However, entering Skipworth Meadow I passed the uncut corner containing Bracken, Tufted Vetch and Ragwort. Meanwhile a trio of Wood Pigeon and a pair of Carrion Crows searched the cut grassland. Above me the Large Corpse’s canopy of Black Pine needles, Holm Oak, Ash and Sycamore leaves rustled in the breeze. A moth fluttered at my feet between the short-trampled grass and a denser edge. Beneath the trees stood stem of dry Garlic Mustard holding onto their seed pods still. Nettles dangling earing like flowers whilst Black Bryony had scaled up one quarter of a Black Pine trunk. An additional duo of Magpies was spotted in the Paddock, however, the fast train of bird movement in the hedgerow escaped my identification although it suggested Long Tailed Tits perhaps?
Saxon’s hay rake quarr revealed a three-centimetre-long pellet of mostly snail shell remains and seeds. It might have been the leavings of a Carrion Crow. A Robin called out from a Hawthorn whilst below Rosehips and Cotoneaster fruits were seen. A female Blackbird “clucked” as she fled the scrub margin. A noisy squawking sound was soon followed by its creator, a Jay. Woolly Thistle heads bowed under their own wait needing to shed seeds. Whilst in the hedgerow Honeysuckle flowers were fading fresh buds of Ivy had developed. False Oat Grass still held seed too., perhaps strong winds are needed!
The downland grass in places was short and dry but now able to recover now that the cattle have been moved off. Deeper in the gully scrub a Chiffchaff called. At my feet among tall downland grassland I spotted a Yellow Wort stem with buds yet to open! A pair of Jackdaws squawked as they flew to join another three over the coastal slopes. On the overhead electric wires perched a bird of prey. The predator was grey in colour with a streaked white / grey breast and likewise streaked wings thus suggesting a juvenile. I suspected that this bird to have been a Merlin, which flew to the lighthouse and rode an updraft on the coastal edge.