I set out this morning down Long Meadow, reeled in by the loud repetitions of a Song Thrush, singing through its verses amongst the Hawthorn. In the sky above, a stark contrast between the light tinkling of Goldfinch floating by, and the deep croaks from a Raven; its black silhouette soaring firmly against the grey sky.
The stream flows at a steady pace through Sunnydale, meandering its way between the mossy banks lined with ferns: Male and Hart’s Tongue. It’s pace quickens as the channel narrows below the Rhododendron and Holly, before slowing under the Cherry Laurel, which is now adorned with fruit.
Nearby, much of the Mahonia has flowered so that each of stems are topped with a crown of yellow flowers. The spikes of the crown and thorny leaves, tending to amass a nest of brown leaves having fallen from the trees above.
The Beech trees have put on quite the show for us this season with colourful autumnal displays varying from coppery-bronze to rich golden hues. Sunny yellow leaves adorn the Field Maple and Wych Elm, whilst the Hazel leaves are still green and only just beginning to turn.
It didn’t rain much yesterday but lots of water still flows across the woodland. The damp conditions lend themselves to the growth of fungi, with Conical Brittlestem appearing in the last few days.
This area sits on an impermeable layer of clay so much of the rainfall has to runoff rather than soak into the ground. It’s also why slopes here are so unstable as the rocks sink and slide upon the mud. There are some fresh clay slips near the Peveril Viewpoint with the distance between the edge and wall reduced from seven paces down to six…
Buddleia and Pampas Grass survive below, seemingly surfing upon the landslips. Big swells rolls in around Durlston Head and a few Gannets can be seen out at sea.