For a second morning I headed out to check on the Hereford Cattle and electric fence in the gully. Fortunately, unlike yesterday I had no repairs to undertake despite the wind. Unfortunately, the Kestrel was not seen today to and fro-ing from a perch on the northeast corner of the Lighthouse complex.
Initially one juvenile Gannets with at least three adults flew west. More were seen off Durlston Head. Today the Guillemot cave was busy with at one point two birds perching on the sloping boulder surface. Another forty-five (ish) were upon the sea in a raft close to the cliffs. Several of the birds were seen flying out to sea. Above the colony a Greater Black Backed Gull was snuggled into the cliff face. A Peregrine Falcon sped along and back the sea cliffs just but failed to capture any of the score of Feral Doves that it passed.
I turned around and chose the walk west pushing against the wind. Two Sea Aster flowers were persisting close to the upper Tilly Whim gate. Waves boomed and crashed at the gully mouth. Beside the Lighthouse wall I discovered a dozen Pin Cushion Galls upon one Wild Rose! A trio of Herring Gull watched from the coastal slopes as a pair of Carrion Crow flew over the green below them. Approaching the horseshoe bridge, I heard cackling before seeing the eleven pairs of Jackdaws perched in a Sycamore. Whilst ascending the downland slope, I heard the abrasive calling of a Jay.
At Saxon’s Hay Rake Quarr the sun cast my shadow. From the scrub margin a Blue Tit chattered before wiping its beak upon a branch. Worryingly, the Cotoneaster had been stripped of all its berries been it could spread further….. One Wren trilled before I headed of to look toward Panoramas Road. Eventually, two separate Magpies were spotted in the distance. I squelched through a saturated Taskers Meadow before creeping under the canopy of Large Copse. The floor was covered with dry leaves and twigs. Very close by a Green Woodpecker called out, possibly perched upon a Black Pine. Wear gloves & hold your onto your hats today!