As forecast, this was the coldest morning so far this month with the temperature at 9.7 Celsius. Despite a slight chill the sun was bright. Upon Allsort’d’s fence perch a Goldfinch as a Robin investigated a picnic table. Entering Lighthouse Field that Hereford Cattle were visible in 10a, their appropriate location! Just as I considered the absence of Swallows and Martins, around thirty arrived over the downland. Along with the sound from the migrants came the “chuffs” of resident Jackdaws. I studied a bright white bird off Anvil Point. Something was different about this one. It flew west, pure white with long legs trailing behind, which to me was most likely a Little Egret. Back inland a two Roe Deer were seen grazing either side of the gully’s inland slope rock face.
At Tilly Whim I enjoyed still seeing Sea Aster blooms. Reflected bay the sea a dazzling sun beam challenged my viewing the coastline. Inland a Painted Lady paused to bask upon Blackthorn whilst Tamarisk was chosen by one Large White butterfly. Upon returning to the Learning Centre, I would see a Red Admiral. Swallows raced over the coast path heading east as two Jackdaw went west. Two Feral Doves perch on the cliff edge whilst one Racing Pigeon, identified by coloured rings on each leg, walked beside the bedrock steps. Flying eastward over the sea was a Shag, of course, whilst a Rock Pipit fluttered about the gully mouth.
I trod upon a Red Fescue carpet upon entering the Gully ravine and ascending inland. I managed to approach the pair of Roe Deer. As I crept up to the narrow rack ledge they observed with upright ears. Reassuring “machine gun fire” from a Wren disturbed the silence. Warblers fluttered amongst Privet and Blackthorn above the rock face. Soon the birds were replaced by a pair of juvenile male Stonechats. As I ascended through the downland two empty, but clearly patterned Garden Snail shells were found devoid of their original occupants. I amused myself considering whether in a pact they had reidentified as Slugs. Upon reaching Lighthouse Road I was please to see, if only one, lemon and custard coloured Common Toadflax flower. Again, my imagination kicked in seeing a Spear Thistle rosette as a spider like man trap. Over the “Telly Tubby land” landscape of the old Purbeck Quarrs, skimmed Swallows.