Yesterday, I managed to avoid strimming several Common Spotted Orchids in the road verge. Today I was surprised to find one Early Spider Orchid in superb condition between the mile markers. At the bonfire site Burdock, Nettle, Charlock, and a stem of Garlic Mustard had token over.
A pair of potential egg or chick stealing Magpies hung about the centre. I passed three mustard coloured Wild Parsnip plants. Back up above I found a new (to me colony) of twenty Early English Gentians at the roadside amongst short turf and no exposed bedrock. Amongst the downland and clifftops Wild Carrot flowers heads resembled “domed doilies”.
It was another day with a raft of Herring Gulls and a few Blacked Head Gulls upon the sea of the cliffs. Not being diver, these birds would need the Guillemots and Razorbills to perhaps raise fish closer to the surface. However, these seemed busy rolling a nd preening upon the water. Interestingly a Gannet flew low over the sea and occasionally dove (only from a metre or two) even amongst the seabird rafts. However, without obviously success it progressed west. Today upon rocks at the cliff foot was a Great Blacked Gull, perhaps waiting for an egg or chick to fall, and further along a preening Cormorant.
Higher up I first saw a Peregrine Falcon glided past above the Guillemot cave. It perched between the observation point and Durlston Head just where the vegetation met the bedrock. Dwarf Mallow, Hedge Bindweed and Stinking Iris were found flowering beside the coast path. However, flowerless Iris & Ivy were all that were under the canopy of Holm Oak cover. Creeping through castle wood I was surprised when I saw fresh leaf growth low down on the trunk of an Ash. As I progressed towards Sycamore cover knee high growth of Holly and Bay were seen, whilst Hawthorn was restricted to ankle height. After reading the weather I noticed a trio of Swallows about the centre.