Taking a woodland wander this morning along the “Isle of Wight Road”, a bit misnomer as it is over a week since the Isle of Wight was last seen from Durlston, as the layer of cloud remains, and visibility remains poor!
Some lovely colours in the trees, with the golden rusty brown of Beech and the yellows of Field Maple and pale lime of the Small-leaved Limes.
From up amongst the small branches, came high pitched calling of a Goldcrest, followed by another and another. Spotting them was more difficult, but eventually the tiny shapes were seen hopping along the twigs. On occasion as they emerged the white ring around the eye could be seen and just the once the bright flash of gold on the forehead.
A few flocks of Goldfinches landing in the bushes, at one point the Hawthorn providing perches for 19 all around the outside, a bit like baubles!
Overhead Linnets were passing, along with the Goldfinches and a couple of Pied Wagtails.
Calling from the top of an Elder, was a Song Thrush, one of many moving around at the moment, with 10 seen on my stroll today, along with Blackbirds and a couple of Redwings. These tucked in the mass of Wild Clematis, the feature of the pale eye-stripe peeking my interest as I looked through my binoculars.
Last night, in the darkness, a faint green glow was coming from the grass, and once more our latest ever Glowworm was lit up. Two of its three last segments shining brightly. It is most unusual to have Glowworms glowing this late in the year, the females have usually stopped glowing (used to attract a male) by the end of September. But this female was not glowing in this place in October, so is it early for next year? A very late starter for this year? Are there any male Glowworms about to be attracted? – so many questions…
Also yesterday evening a Tawny Owl was hooting form the woods and a Badger was out and about snuffling in the softish earth for invertebrates.