As my early patrol began, in the distance I could just see the old Water Tower on the top of the hill, however as time went on and the cloud got lower and much wetter, the bushes 30yards ahead were only just visible.
A fairly silent walk through the woods until a Blackbird started to sing, such a wonderful song, I just had to admire it, alongside the chirring calls of a Great Tit, followed by the crashing sound of a Grey Squirrel as it bounded between the branches of a Sycamore and a Horse Chestnut. The leaves of this majestic tree already turned a deep rusty brown.
Flying across Durlston Bay a group of 6 Cormorants, a couple dark, while the others looking more grey as they flew, their long necks leading to the flattish head giving them a strange appearance.
Across the meadows, a few flowers have been left in the margins, while the rest has been cut and baled for winter hay. A scattering of Restharrow, a small pale pink flower, dwarfed by the bright yellow Fleabane. The soft almost heather like Red Bartsia adding a bit more colour as does Field Scabious and Wild Carrot.
As I scanned across the field with binoculars, peering through the thick wet mist, one of the hay bales seemed a strange shape, the top lumpy, a few steps further forward and I could make out the shape of a Fox curled up on top, sadly it shortly bounded off and disappeared before I could get a really good look – or photo!
The highlights of a woodland moth trap last night were Portland Riband Wave and Four-spotted Footman among a few others.
A Song Thrush began to sing, catching my attention, and as I looked along the hedgerow, drops of water were caught on the strands of silk of the spiders webs, beautifully outlining these amazing structures.
A sudden clatter of a Wood Pigeon taking off from the Willow tree, such a noisy bird not only on take off but also in flight