I checked upon the Pleasure Grounds Winterbourne, yet it was but a collection of disconnected puddles. Nevertheless, wind wailed through the canopy. Malleable, damp clay was underfoot in places. Water droplets dripped from the peak of my hood. Beside the wet shiny concrete base of a Measured Mile Marker, it was a delight to see the white fluffy tail of a Rabbit before it bolted off. In this exposed location it felt and sound like hail was hitting me. At an angle I walked into the wind to view the gully mouth. No sign of a Winterbourne here either, or the blow hole spout today.
Sheltered down the steps at Tilly Whim cave gates I wrote up my notes. Looking into the darkness no drips were heard. Meanwhile rain did drip down the retaining wall of the Adder Hibernaculum. Harts Tounge Fern simply wiggled in the shelter. Ivy stems scaled the Portland Limestone with an umbrella of leaves occurring once it reached sunlight. At the top of the steps Tamarisk was wind shaken.
Above an empty cliff cave sat a Greater Black Backed Gull, whilst a brief flurry of Feral Dove action occurred beyond. Froth lines the foot of the sea cliffs. A fishing buoy a chain cloaked in Wrack looked like a sea serpent. Two immature Herring Gulls with a Greater Black Backed Gull flew west cliffside. A Shag departed only to return to the cliff face. A tussock of Thrift basal leaves was initially hoped to have been a bird clinging to rock. Waves and spray tried, in vain, to reach the wave cut platform. The mist gave 0.5km visibility off the cliffs. From the Obs Point two Gannets passed as a Greater Black Backed Gull glided on an updraft. A Herring Gull had to zig zag in all four planes as it flew into the wind. A Dunnock scampered along the base of the coast path dry stone wall. Clear, empty freshwater rock pools were upon the Globe step with limestone path debris at the edges. Healthy Valerian and Rock Samphire was nearby. Through binoculars I saw fresh soil associated with Badger tunnelling. About the moving evergreen Holm Oak branch tips, a Butterfly flew despite the rain! Old Harry was engulfed in mist, whilst froth marked the edge of Durlston Bay’s rocky and boulder shoreline.