A blustery start to the day, with winds gusting 49mph overnight. Even the sturdier branches of Sycamore and Holm Oak rock with movement. Grassy stems and Cowslips twitch to and fro.
Above the sound of the howling wind, a loud calling Great Tit – impressively audible calling from such a small bird. I step into the hide to see a few of these birds collecting seeds from the bird feeders, yellow feathers ruffling in the breeze. They are joined by the equally dainty Chaffinch, rosy-brown breast on show. Woodpigeons saunter around below, scavenging the dropped leftovers and discarded seed husks.
No sign of the three Badgers who were caught on camera here a couple of nights ago.
The wind has rocked the Blackthorn blossom, leaving a scattering of white petals like the Daisies which line the footpaths. Fortunately, many flowers have clung on and remain on the scrub; giving the downs a patchwork of white and yellow, where interspersed with Gorse.
At first glance it’s difficult to spot the bounty of Early Spider Orchids which abound across these slopes, but watch your step as thousands of unique plants are counted across Durlston each year. Whitethroat heard, having now migrated back this way from Africa for the Summer.
Hawthorn and Elder are now fully in leaf, with Field Maple following closely behind. Today it’s leafy branches providing cover for a calling Chiffchaff hidden amongst the green. Robin and Wren singing. Sticky Horse Chestnut buds now bursting into their big floppy leaves.
More signs of Spring in the woodland where shoots of Horsetail and Bracken have appeared in abundance. Stalks of the latter unfurling their fronds in a pleasing motion. Stands of Willowherb, showing in particularly sunny glade with Honeybee and Buff-tailed Bumblebee whizzing by.