The rain has continued overnight and through to this morning, leaving a very damp and soggy park fit only for wellies and waterproofs. Over 30mm of rain has fallen here in the last two days. Rain droplets hang from the branches of Dogwood along the Long Meadow hedge, and the view barely reaches past Peveril Point, with Durlston sat in a cloud of mist.
Outside the Castle, the sunny contrast of yellow Daffodils can be enjoyed and fresh green ground cover of Goosegrass, Wild Arum, and Honeysuckle in the Dell. Above the Belvedere, a loud Herring Gull bellows out its caw, whilst a Magpie churrs in retort.
Apart from the evergreen Holm Oaks which dominate the woodland, much of the canopy remains bare, and you can watch the Woodpigeons as they race overhead. However, if you look closely enough, you can find the first leaves beginning to sprout on Elder, Willow, and Fuchsia. Lovely white flowers can also be seen on some of the Blackthorn.
The black silhouettes of Jackdaws float menacingly above the Observation Point. I think this because these usually sociable birds were silent and motionlessly as they drifted on the updraughts of winds. Fulmars carried out their usual looping flights to and from the cliffs; wings steady and outstretched. A raft of only six Guillemots could be seen on the water, the empty ledge indicating the rest of colony has flown out to sea.
Volunteers have revealed the steps to the lower gate at Tilly Whim, having scraped back years of built-up mud. When the new gates are installed, access from the upper gate will be opened once the Adders move from bank above in the Summer. There was not much chance of spotting one in the cold and wet today.
Bright yellow Gorse flowers can be seen scattered across scrub on the downs. Amongst the dense cover, the calls of both a Robin and a Wren; though I had to remove my very wet hood to hear them, so didn’t listen for long. Yellow-tipped leaves of evergreen Stinking Iris show the stresses of a long winter and short periods of daylight.