A blustery start to the day, with the wind roaring through the branches of Ash, Sycamore and Holm Oak. Even sturdy Blackthorn (now laden with lovely midnight blue Sloes) and Hawthorn (covered with crimson Haws) tremble and dance, with a White Poplar near the Learning Centre flashing the silver undersides of it’s leaves (which give the tree it's name).
Overhead, a few Swallows ride the wind, barreling along and folding their wings back to their bodies as they fly. Charms of Goldfinches seem to blow like confetti on the breeze, filling the air with their tinkling calls, but otherwise a fairly quiet morning for birds, although a glimpse of a Redstart (my first this season) was a nice surprise!
Down on the cliffs, local birder Peter has been out since first light and was rewarded with not only a passing Sooty Shearwater, but also a single passing Common Dolphin (a good view of the fin helping him distinguish it from the more frequently seen Bottlenose Dolphin). Gannets, Shags, Cormorant and Great Black-backed Gull also passing the cliffs, with a Rock Pipit struggling along the gusty clifftop.
Still plenty of flowers to enjoy, with the short downland turf carpeted with purple Wild Thyme, the tiny, star-shaped white and pink flowers of Squinancywort, the creamy yellow flowers of Pepper Saxifrage (a member of the Umbellifer or Cow Parsley family despite the name), and pink and white Restharrow. A few of the fluffy flowerheads of honey-scented Ladies Bedstraw also still in bloom.
Our final orchid of the year, Autumn Lady’s Tresses is in full bloom – just couple of inches tall, with a spiral of white flowers around the stem.
On the longer turf, towering Woolly Thistles grow alongside Wild Parsnip and Burdock (a few leaves almost a foot across!).
In the meadows, Wild Carrot, Knapweed and Ragwort are providing nectar for late butterflies, with Holly Blue, Meadow Brown and Large White seen in more sheltered spots this morning.