It’s a calm and quiet morning as I stroll through the woodland. Gulls can be heard above Durlston Bay and Crows caw in the canopy above. I follow a log lined path filled with soft woodchip and dry crunchy leaves. Blackbirds scamper along ahead of me, Wrens chirp from the undergrowth, and every so often a Robin bursts into song.
It's lovely to see more summer flowers now bloom. Gatekeeper butterflies flutter around the resplendent pink blossom of Willowherb, and Hemp-Agrimony. Tiny white flowers are scattered below where a carpet of Enchanters Nightshade grow.
Small fruits have now formed on the Damson and Apple, with the branches of the latter becoming increasingly weighed down into the path.
After wandering around for 20 minutes or so, I realise I hadn’t seen a soul, and then the quietness of the morning was confirmed when I noticed a Roe Deer walking up beside the play trail, completely oblivious to my presence. Headed in my direction and nibbling fresh Holm Oak leaves on the way. She got within about 5m of me, before her large ears stood alert and she noticed me stood right in the open and bounded off into the distance.
Following this, I did find time for a quick jaunt down to the Observation Point where a good 5 or 6 Shags were all in flight alongside a few Fulmar and noisy Herring Gull. A few more Shags perch on the guano covered rocks, and another opens it’s long beak to let out a deep croak, as it comes to land on the cliffs.
My return journey up through the more dense and shaded castle woodland saw Grey Squirrels scuttling up the trees where Great Tits sing and Woodpigeons coo. Red Admirals dance around an open glade where a thicket of Bramble has grown tall. A Buff-tailed Bumblebee buzzes as it collects pollen from each pink flower and pollinates them along the way.
Later this morning, I watched the final Guillemot chick successfully fledge from the ledge, jumping some 50’ to water below.