It was dark beginning to the morning such that I could see a triangle of lights upon a large vessel moored in Poole Bay. The urban coast was visible beyond.
As I entered Saxon a quartet of Jackdaws passed overhead near the old hay rake. Amongst the scrub cover only the leaves of Ivy and Bramble were seen. Beside the east-west drove colour came in the form of Stinking Iris leaf blades and solid Harts Tongue Fern fronds. I noticed cattle tracks had penetrated the scrub that obscures the quarry of Herren Ground. Upon the grassland a score of Herring Gulls appeared to rest as none were seen seeking out worms. In the distance I noticed a trio of Roe Deer amongst the Hereford Cattle in Field 1.
In Centenary a silent Carrion Crow perched at the field edge whilst another investigated the ground. At the foot of a wall plenty of fresh vibrant Cleavers (Goose Grass) growth was seen. Another two, or even the same pair from earlier, Carrion Crows were in Eight Acres. I was delighted to conform that we still had thirty-six cattle in Fields 1 & 2. I listened as the wind blew through the north – south drove scrub edge. From field three the sounds of a Song Thrush rang out.
Upon entering field six a Wren went into low level flight, whilst silently a Wood Pigeon crossed in front of me. After the dry Bracken fronds, a dry Thistle stems the yellow Gorse flowers were a welcome sight. It was a Magpie that flew into deep scrub cover.
From the downland I caught the briefest glimpse of a Gannet heading west near the Lighthouse. In the same direction flew a trio of Greater Black Backed Gulls up the gully. Two score Winter Heliotrope stems were in various states of flower beside the Small Copse.