I arrived at the Learning Centre to greet Hannah, the Resident Volunteer, and do the Wildlife Diary with her. We decided to head to the Long Meadow and towards the Woodland and Pleasure Grounds.
Spotted in the Car Park was a Grey Squirrel, 2x Wood Pigeons and 2x Carrion Crows flying above us, as well as the beautiful sound of the common Robins. Unfortunately, the weather was not playing nice, windy and wet, but we continue regardless.
We get to the Long Meadow, turn left, look into the hedgerow and notice the Dogwood, Field Maple, Ash with Ivy, Stinking Iris, Hart’s-tongue Fern, Lords and Ladies, as well as hearing and glimpsing a Blue Tit. We head right at the end of Long Meadow, toward the woodland, and spot a Primrose starting to grow.
We pass the gate and look at the Winter Heliotrope, which will start to be removed on Friday with Hannah and our other resident volunteer (Kirsty), this will be removed and relocated to allow for other native and naturalised plants to grow there ensuring a more biodiverse ground layer.
Various other species spotted here are the Turkey Tail fungus on the bordering logs as well as Ivy, Hard Shield Fern and rather non-native Bamboo. Past a once coppiced veteran Beech tree there is a monolith tree with King Alfred’s Cakes.
We walk straight down to the Clifftop trail left of the castle, slow down just under the castle near the dell, here we spot a Goldfinch, a couple of Robins, Wren, Blue Tit, Blackbird, and a Wood Pigeon. In Durlston Bay we spotted 2x Herring Gulls and a Shag.
We walk up to the viewpoint, plenty of Guillemots, as well as other bird species such as Fulmars, Jackdaws, Herring Gulls, and a Shag.
Have a wonderful February Half Term Thursday and fingers cross the weather will improve from this morning.