Another quick change from yesterday’s glorious sunshine to a dull drizzly morning, however always something to spot on a walk up here on Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve!
A steady trickle of Swallows still flying overhead, flitting up and over the bushes, banking as they changed direction. Last night in the early evening sunshine hundreds of Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins were circling and zooming just above, a wonderful sight and such a treat to watch.
The gentle flight pattern of a Jay caught my eye, as I admired this multi-coloured bird (pink, white, black, blue) another 5 Jays followed in its wake.
Off towards the Hereford Cattle, my next point of call, to check on the water and grazing which is now almost complete in Taskers Meadow so they will be moving later today to Smithfield and Skipworth meadows. Walking past the cattle they approached me, all excited about the move, disappointed when it didn’t happen – later I told them!!
Emerging form the grass by their hooves a couple of Pied Wagtails, the long tails of these black and white birds easily visible.
Of towards the downland to look at the remaining work in field 10 – still lots of cutting of Blackthorn, Bramble and Dog Rose to do, but a great start yesterday with the Volunteer Work Party. Hopefully the cleared banks will recover into flower and insect rich areas.
A single stem of blooming yellow flowers of Agrimony poking up, the other stems covered in small hooked seedheads – all ready to catch on your socks!
A few Yarrow flowers, some pink, some white, alongside a few white heads of Wild Carrot and the yellows of Rough Hawkbit.
In the distance a blob of dirty white turned out on closer inspection to be a Sheep, not sure where it has arrived from! So please don’t be surprised to see a Sheep, make sure your dogs are under very close control.