What a morning! With the thick cover of cloud which was depositing a scattering of raindrops, the darkness remained throughout my patrol!
A flash of white in amongst the Blackthorn bushes caused a moments excitement, as Magpie emerged to cross the path ahead.
Another white flash and a Jay was disappearing back into the block of sheltered woodland it had flown out of. These birds usually look bright and colourful but today all colours have disappeared.
A squelching sound from underfoot as the sodden turf sunk under my weight leaving ‘delicate’ boot indents, amongst the Roe Deer slots and footprints of a Dog.
As I stood on the top of the downland, barely able to stand upright, the wind was howling past, what s spot looking out to St Aldhelm’s Head and along to Anvil Point.
No sight today of the Dolphins that were spotted yesterday or the whale seen of Friday, but you never know, what might be seen!
Along the clifftops, just a single pair of Herring Gulls to be seen, however out to sea a bit of bird movement. Low to the water a couple of small white winged gulls and some with grey backs – neither of these could I identify further as my binoculars were then covered in water from the driving and rain!
A couple of patches of Yellow Brain Fungus growing on the fallen trunk of a Holm Oak, on an Elder stem a wobbly Jelly Ear and from an Ash the almost round black balls of King Alfred’s Cakes.
The Japanese Spindle with its evergreen waxy leaves, has its pale pink seeds now showing, providing a bit of brightness on this very dull day.