The weather forecast was for change, and this morning it was certainly that!
From the south west a strong wind was blowing, churning the sea, providing a glorious mass of white crests on the grey water. Lifting my binoculars to scan for activity the wind buffeted them making it impossible for me to see much, not helped by the liberal splattering of rain drops on the lens. However, in the Dolphin Watching shelter two long telescopic lens were spotted – perhaps a better place to see than the exposed coast path!
A couple of Herring Gulls and a Rock Pipit the sum total of birdlife until reaching the shelter of Durlston Bay. Here a Blackbird emerged from the mass tangle of Wild Clematis, the flowers of white are a delicate pale lemon colour.
A trilling from the bottom of the patch of Bramble and a Wren appeared, while a few Goldfinches were clinging onto the twigs of the Sycamore I was sheltering underneath!
Many of the ‘hedgerow’ plants now providing fruit, with a scattering of ripe Blackberries on the Brambles, bright red berries of Black Bryony dangling from the ropes on which the leaves have shrivelled, as well as the hard berries of the Wayfaring Tree.
Tutsan also providing its berries, a range of green, orange and black as they ripen.
The strong wind bending the stems of Hemp Agrimony, the dull pink flowers weighing them over. As they swayed a patch of purple flowered Woody Nightshade could be seen.
The summer coastal plants, with their thick waxy leaves, are still blooming, including the lilac coloured Sea Aster, greenish Rock Samphire, deep yellow Golden Samphire and the delicately purple Durlston Rock-sea Lavender.
Without the sunshine the gold coloured Carline Thistles are closed up, while a few Picnic Thistles are scattered across the turf – placed for the unwary picnicker to painfully perch upon!