Friday 13th dawned dull and grey, a curtain of thick cloud enveloping Durlston and beyond.
From the nearby clump of Blackthorn came a squeaking call, indicating that somewhere in the vicinity was a Bullfinch. Despite knowing what they look like and seeing them most days I still had the urge to wait and watch and spot this gorgeous bird. Eventually its bright pink chest appeared as the male perched on an outer twig – quite stunning in the gloom.
Amongst the grass nearby, the caps of the slimy Field Blewitt fungi, some the size of a bowl, providing patches of brown within the green.
Behind me the sound of feet clipping on the hard ground, as I turned a Roe Deer stopped, then sprang off sideways into and through a gap in the adjacent hedgerow. The white patch on its rump flashing as it bounded off.
Out on the downland, the small dark red berries and pale reddish leaves of Cotoneaster are fairly easy to see, not a plant we really encourage due to its invasive nature, although it is a good source of winter food.
Gliding across the sky a group of Herring Gulls, their loud calls echoing around, the sound to be heard well after the Gulls had disappeared from view into the merk.
Taking flight from a Sycamore a group of 6 Wood Pigeons, to me their roundish shape and obvious nature makes it strange that they are such a successful bird!
Along the Diagonal path we have been cutting back some of the Gorse, Wild Clematis and Brambles to reveal the grassy understory.
Whilst there, Holm Oaks were also being removed, as these Mediterranean trees are well suited to life on the cliffs here but allow very little to grow underneath them so can greatly reduce the biodiversity of the habitat.
The work of stopping Holm Oaks moving westwards onto the downs is not helped by the Jays and Grey Squirrels who carefully plant the acorns!