Passing the observatory was plentiful bird sounds coming from the Brambles, Blackthorn and Hawthorn shrubs – species such as a Wood Pidgeon, Blackcap, Wren, Carrion Crow, and to the left of me a Goldfinch.
As one passes through the gate, the long grasses are noticeable, with the Ragwort, ant mounds to the right, and mixed bushes/sea view to the left. In front, is an extremely small patch of woodland with an abundance of Ash trees, as well as the odd Sycamore and plentiful Brambles on the field layer.
Turning left into the next field, the sound of Bush Crickets, Grasshoppers, Bees – and other pollinating insects were croaking and buzzing around the field.
I look down to the sea view with the lighthouse in front of me, hoping to spot a Bottlenose Dolphin (one spotted over Hengistbury Head yesterday), a White-Tailed Eagle, or even something more common such as a Kestrel or Peregrine falcon – so I sit for one minute – no such thing other than two Herring Gulls and a few Meadow Browns.
Disappointed, one had to move on, headed onto the lighthouse tarmacked road and into the woodlands, where a Speckled Wood Butterfly was spotted.
Within the woodland there are many brambles, plenty of Holm Oak, some Ash, and Sycamore. On the field layers of the woodland Ground Ivy, Stinking Iris and Harts Tongue Fern.
Whilst doing the weather recording, one of the bird ringer’s came to talk to me, a rare bird recolonising Dorset was caught and recorded by them – The Cirl Bunting.