A breezy walk across the meadows, flying above me, twittering loudly was a flock of Meadow Pipits and a little later a group of Pied Wagtails – easy to recognise with their looping up and down flight, long tails and black and white plumage.
While looking up, I was trying (unsuccessfully) to dodge the cow pats, our herd of Hereford cattle are grazing through the fields, munching on the aftermaths of the hat cut and rummaging into the scrubby and longer grass areas. This an important part of the lifecycle of the fields, the cattle and of Durlston. But please shut the gates, our neighbours are not keen on cows in the garden!
Across the Park a scattering of flowers still in bloom including Rough Hawkbit, Black Knapweed, Red Clover, Daisy and Common Toadflax.
Soaring overhead the distinctive shape of a Peregrine Falcon, as I watched a squadron of Swallows swooped past me and a couple of Ravens crowed deeply.
The sounds of a flock of Siskins catching my ear, while Lesser Redpolls and some Bramblings also pass over.
Browsing on the Blackthorn, was a female Roe Deer, delicately removing leaves from the spiny twigs. Movement nearby, saw a fawn standing in the long grass only just visible as he was only belly high on his mother. This little one has two furry bumps where its antlers will be. The male was rubbing his antlers on the upright stem of Ragwort. Wonderful views of this Roe Deer family.
In the woods a Firecrest spotted, alongside Chiffchaff and Goldcrest, but no sign as of yet of the Yellow-browed Warbler which was seen yesterday!
In the late dusk of yesterday, a Pipistrelle Bat was fluttering along the hedgerow corridor, while later still the evocative seeping of a couple of Redwings, could be heard, as was the loud “twoo” of a Tawny Owl.