Welcome to winter! At 07:59 the wind gusted up to 80 miles per hour! The wind roared through trees and dispatched leaves and branches. Hedgerows appeared to manically bow in the wind. Nevertheless, Wood Pigeons were the dominant birds still determined to fly in these conditions. A solo Carrion Crow investigated about the picnic table on Long Meadow.
I was lucky to speak to a dog walking duo who had ventured though the aviaries. Their report of no trees or branches down allowed me to explore the cliff tops and castle wood. Many rolling white crested waves were inside the often, sheltered Durlston Bay. I noted a redundant telegraph pole wearing a skirt like cover of Wild Madder (with berries) about its base. More Wood Pigeon activity was observed beneath the Holm Oak cover of the timeline.
Heading towards the observation point I walked face first into the wind. I enjoyed my first views of the glass engraved word bird installation at the observation point. Offshore blankets of Seaweed had been ripped from its anchors and sent to drift upon the brine. One weed shaken Tamarisk bush had a broken, dangling limb secured on by Ivy growth. Of the Dolphin Hut I spotted a Greater Black Backed Gull on the wing heading west along the cliff tops. At first, I thought it was a brave Jackdaw that had shot out from the trees cover. However, the turned out to be a Peregrine Falcon that chose to fly west. Particularly at Tilly Whim wave cut platform, the waves that crashed into the ledge then had their sea spray blown over the cliff top by the wind. On occasions had had a brief sand blast sensation upon my face. Another Greater Black Backed Gull heading west, might have been the same on simply flying a circuit. The wind deterred me from checking out the gully mouth but I was able to see that the lamp of Anvil Point Lighthouse was indeed active this morning.
Gorse beside the diagonal path was lashed by the wind and the Ryall seat had been blown over. I cautiously enter the Holm Oak, Ash and Sycamore cover of Castle wood. I picked up many branches across the path. However, like a giant hand that rested its fingertips about the wood chip path was the broken crown of an Ash tree. I manage to shake the substantial detached stem to rest safely perpendicular to the ground. Until one of can return with a bowsaw, it branches would obstruct the pathway. The cap of a Field Mushroom appeared to have detached in the gusts. Another broken branch was hung up over the Large Copse path, fortunately supported by several branches. Take care beneath trees today! Only Magpies were to be seen upon reached the Centre.