Our volunteer bird ringers were in action since the crack of dawn this morning. They reported catching a Redstart, Robin, Goldfinch, Willow Warbler, and increasing numbers of Blackcap. Yesterday Katie reported a Wheatear, and last week a Melodious Warbler was ringed.
Heading out into the meadows, I follow occasional Meadow Brown butterflies to the sound of Crickets whirring amongst the long grass – now seeded and ready to be harvested. In the gentle breeze, Bumblebees cling to the swaying flowerheads of Ragwort, Ox-eye Daisy, and Woolly Thistle as they collect nectar to eat.
From the top of the ridge, the wind carries voices from the Coast path right up over the gully, and a shrieking Pheasant sounds particularly piercing. Looking out across the gully, much of vegetation is now tinged red, where a large crop of Hawthorn berries has now fruited.
I continue walking westward listening to a variety of birds; Great Tits churr from the patches of Gorse, a Wren sings from within the Blackthorn scrub, and Goldfinch chirp as they pass overhead.
As I reach the far drive, I find the Cows grazing between the bracken and Ant hills in the top of field 6. Flies buzz around both mum and calf as they munch on the turf. I realise that I don’t think the cows are meant to be in this field as I remember them grazing Field 3 on Friday. They could have been moved by another ranger over the weekend but I decided to investigate the field boundary just in case…
Sure enough a section of dry stone wall has collapsed just beyond the dew pond (now dry but filled with Yellow Iris and Scentless Mayweed) and under an old gnarled Elder.
As I route my way back across the meadows I can see the MN Pelican cargo ship making its bi-weekly return trip to Poole from Bilbao. A Kestrel hovers silently before this cracking view of the cargo ship; framed the Durlston slopes and Sun breaking through the clouds upon the Isle of Wight.