The winter winds blow in from the easterly sunrise, this morning obscured by cloud. White horses roll into Durlston bay and meet the incoming south-westerly swell below the head. It’s not too often that these two conditions line-up, so there were many surfers making the most of it here over the weekend. Herring Gulls patrolling high in the sky above, and Rock Pipits piping along the rocky shore.
We were lucky to avoid any significant tree damage from Storm Darragh, though possibly in part due to effort staying on top of dangerous trees the past few years. Dying trees can be easy to spot if you know what to look for: such as the lifted bark and burrow marks of the Elm Bark Beetle on (of course) Elm. Ash Dieback is a little bit trickier in winter, whilst unable to see the thinning crown, but look for twigless branch tips instead.
As decomposers of dead-organic material, fungi is another sure way to evidence a dying tree. This morning I find, the black hardened lumps of King Alfred’s Cakes covering an Ash. Across felled Holm Oak; slimy yellow Witches Butter, shelves of Turkey-tail brackets, and lastly Hen of the Woods which kind of resembles a pine-cone.
The storm did finish off the leaf fall for most of the trees, excepting understorey of lime-green Hazel discs and the now coppery Beech.
More understorey is provided by the ornamental plantings of evergreen Japanese Spindle and Bamboo. These plants providing cover for a singing Blue Tit, and a Wren with its distinctively loud call for a such a small bird. A pair of Blackbirds dart past, whistling as they quickly disappear into the thicket.
Despite the drab skies, bright colours can be enjoyed where red berries ripen upon the Cherry Laurel, the beautiful Mahonia blossoming its golden-crowns, and an incredible display of magenta-pink Spindle berries.