Already I missed the Winter Wonderland and would more so, being overdressed and getter hotter and itchier in the rain. Recently, several flowers, with marzipan scent, of Winter Heliotrope had been found about the reclaimed landfill. Today a few stems were found flowering on the south side of Small Copse. Here one had to hunt for the flowers, whilst over the wall the Hereford cattle had grazed off all the leaves within South Field side.
This morning’s soundscape consisted off: bird song; aircraft rumble; waves. Only when beneath the overhead wires was the voice of the breeze added. It was great to see another section of Dry Stone Wall dismantle (after the cattle exposed its weakness). I would be surprised is it is completed before the cattle graze Lighthouse Field in the New Year. However, our volunteers do surprise me!
First one Magpie flew east before another was spotted perched at a downland / meadow margin. It was the distinctive mustard colour of Wild Parsnip that made it stand out against the rest of the downland herb layer. I would also see some purple in the form of remaining Greater Knapweed flowers. As I slipped about in the mud off the Upper Gully, a Carrion Crow looked on. It observed from a Hawthorn, which was bare, apart from a “skirt” of Ivy. Wren trills were heard, whilst the mouse like bird remained out of sight.
Upon reaching the eastern end of the downland ridge I found small, fresh leaves upon Honeysuckle. From this viewpoint, which was clearest looking east, I hope to see a wild mammal. Instead, I saw a dog. At this point, part of the Isle of Wight, even bits of St. Catherine’s Head, were seen. I saw the white wings of possibly a Gannet, pass Anvil Point. Later it was a pair of Herring Gulls that glided westward, with bent wings, up the gully. Upon the tarmac road approach of Horseshoe Bridge, a Dunnock foraged. Other birds were active but unseen as the rain became heavier. I headed for the cliff tops and found some thirty Feral Doves rising in spiralling twists and turns from the cliff face. It seemed a complicated manoeuvre only to fly off east together. My reward was to see around a hundred Guillemot huddled together in their see cliff cave. Before reaching the weather station, I passed a Grey Squirrel amongst the thorns and haws of Hawthorn. I did not see it eat the haws, nor the sloes of the Blackthorn around it.