A damp and dull early morning’s patrol around Durlston this morning. The sight of a Jay brightened the walk, its white rump very obvious as it wafted away from me.
After the strong winds of last night (40+mph) the air is almost still, and with that a flock of Long-tailed Tits could at first be heard as they pottered about the Hazel.
The round bodies of these small birds balanced on the branches by the long tail – on close inspection the attractive pink, black and white markings spotted.
Out on the meadows quite a few Blackbirds are about, many of these will be from northern and eastern Europe and have arrived for our warmer winter.
Also flashes of red showing as some thrushes were flying between the Blackthorn and Hawthorn plants. These Redwings show off the patches under there wing very well when they are flying, on landing it is the pale stripe above the eye which catches my attention more.
Slowly slipping their way across the stones of the dry-stone wall were a couple of Wall Snails – Heligonia lapicida. A chocolate brown coloured, flattened shaped shell with a distinct edge (keel).
Scattered across the fields a selection of fungi including Shaggy Inkcap, Horse Mushroom, Parasol, Yellow Stainer and Field Blewitt.
Down in the woods the Grey Squirrels were numerous and noisily scampering up and down the rough trunks of the Holm Oaks, while trilling loudly from amongst the bright green leaves of the Japanese Spindle, was a Wren.
A quick peer out to sea and a Shag was flying low to the water, on which were bobbing some dark shapes – hopeful of Seal I lifted the binoculars to be greeted by two lobster pot buoys instead!