Yesterday the work party reported hairy Fox Moth caterpillars. Having moved cattle from Townsend to Jack Basis I flushed a Snipe from un-grazed grassland. This morning despite a bright risen sun the wind was cold. The bird ringers were active and informed that both a Durlston rung Goldcrest and Firecrest had been re-captured near Lands’ End, Cornwall. Hirundine activity continued over meadows, downland and cliff edges.
A sunbeam stretched across the sea and coast path spreading its fingers towards Long Meadow. Sat upon a wall capper, near the Castle, was a Grey Squirrel that would shortly scamper upon a tree trunk. Below Dell Bridge a Robin duo shared a capstone perch, shortly joined by a third. Ash, Sycamore and Holm Oak leaves caught in the wind led to branch waving. Riding a thermal above Durlston Bay’s undercliff, were several Herring Gulls travelling northwards. Path side Burdock and Hemp Agrimony awaiting respectively, mammalian host and the weed to distribute their seed. Heading south past Durlston Head, duo to higher flight, I believe it was two Cormorants. Offshore a sloop travelled slowly without sail heading for the sanctuary of Swanage. Either a Bee or Hoverfly flew seeking nectar amongst Holm Oak leaves. Thirty Jackdaws were about the sea cliffs. A Raven flew past calling beside the coast path. Pecking at Teasel heads were a couple of Goldfinch near Tilly Whim steps. Squawking emanating for near the Goat Plot suggested either Magpie or Jay presence. Wave crash created spray at the Gully Mouth, whilst further inland a pair of Roe Deer browsed vegetation amongst the Gully rock face. Spent remains of a Dwarf Thistle flowers looked nicotine stained. Swallows were seen swooping close to Gorse cover ready to swipe any emerging insects. Orange crust lichen Xanthoria parietina coloured otherwise bare dead Gorse branches. A chatter charm of ten Goldfinches briefly gathered amongst a bare branched Hawthorn. This also hosted a grey green branching lichen suspected to be Ramalina farinacea.