This morning I was distracted by receiving a delivery of stone. On my way down Long Meadow I noticed the odd patch of frost, a pattern to be repeated this morning. Beneath the Yew, near Solent Road, I noticed two Winter Heliotrope stems in flower. The stone delivery necessitated some physical activity as I had to shift cap stones that otherwise blocked the wooded coast path.
I returned to my patrol and passed through Smithfield which had a widening splay of footprints that avoided a soggy patch. I discovered the impact of power line clearance tree surgery which meant more light came into the top of Tasker’s Path. It was a Song Thrush that was building up to full song near the Large Copse. Despite our installing a pedestrian gate beside the field gate between Saxon and Taskers, the walking surface was still squidgy mud. This suggested another route aught to have been taken! A Carrion Crow flew off from a Hawthorn perch.
In Saxon passing through dense Tor Grass cover, Ant Hills were noticeable for their Red Fescue crowns. Amongst Woolly Thistle stems were upright, drooping and snapped stalks. Upon one Cotoneaster plant beside Hay Rake Quarr were a few shrivelled fruits. A Woodpigeon fled adjacent Elder bushes.
Approaching the downland of Lighthouse Field, the calls of Jackdaws rang out. An excavated Ant Hill suggested the past action of a Badger or Green Woodpecker. Some plucked Pheasant feathers suggests an encounter with a large bird of prey. A cheeky Magpie landed upon the head of a happy Hereford cow. Soon there were a quartet of Magpies hanging out with the cattle. Some seventeen of the cattle were grazing or ruminating in the sun of Goat Plot. Whilst scanning the electric fence-line two Rabbits came into view. The Raven that flew east past the lighthouse perched and called from the lower Mile Marker. Soon it flew further east. Close to the sea a Shag flew west whilst a Greater Black Backed Gull followed but at coast-path level. Amongst Bramble clambering a dry-stone wall was heathy Honeysuckle leaf growth.