A fresh scattering of leaves give the woodland a distinct autumnal feel; for in May, the evergreen Holm Oaks drop last year’s browned leaves as they sprout fresh green growth. In the past week, this has of course been aided by the Easterly winds which whip up waves in Durlston Bay and blow up through the trees.
High above the swaying branches, the loud screeching from a Peregrine Falcon. I can see it through the canopy as a silhouette against the grey sky. It’s briefly mobbed by some Crows before flowing South towards the Castle.
It’s lovely to see the woodland understorey springing into life again; now 3.5 years since we removed the dilapidated concrete posts and chain-link fence to rebuild the original dry stone walls. A thicket of Bramble, Wood dock, and Willowherb provide cover for a Blackbird as it shies away from scavenging the path. This vegetation is fringed by flowering Buttercup, Wood Avens, and Bittersweet.
Along the Play Trail I uncover the new Activity Spinner which was installed on Monday and cement now cured. Spin the wheel to play our Scavenger Hunt and race to be the winner!
Beautiful blooms of resplendent Charlock line the path to the Globe, whilst the turf below is spotted with yet more Buttercup, Cocksfoot Grass, and Ox-eye Daisy. I don’t have any luck searching for the Bee Orchid here (just a lot of litter!), but later find six of these pretty flowers between the Mile Marker posts near the Lighthouse.
Plenty of Guillemot and Razorbill raft of the water below their smelly guano covered cliff ledges. Amongst them I spot the usual Herring Gulls and more occasional Shag, but also some Black-Headed Gulls and possibly two Kittiwake as well.