It was a wet drive in from Poole and a wet Diary Walk! As I write, my trousers are soaked to the brim! Walking out of the car I notice a beautiful cloud formation – one that looks like mother nature is angry with it’s wispy darkness! I didn’t however stop the birdsongs, as I put my boots on 3x Chiffchaffs could be heard, as well as a Goldfinch, Robin, Crow and Wren.
I walk towards the Pleasure Ground Woodland, via Long Meadow, here by the benches I can spot Buttercup species (namely Creeping and Meadow, I’m sure also Bulbous), Red and White Clover, Ox-Eye Daisies, and a small Common Spotted Orchid. A Blue Tit is seen flying, and a Blackbird is heard singing away. I go into the Holm Oak woodland, the view is stunning with the rough Durlston Bay, and the wind is stronger here, a Great Tit is just about heard. Down in the Dell, a few birds can be bravely heard, another Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, Wren, Linnets above, and a Jackdaw.
I go past the Castle and head for the amphitheatre below the gallery, the Grass here has already been mowed, yet on the edges Black Mustard can be spotted in abundance, and Ox-Eye Daisies, Red and White Clover, Bird-Foot Trefoil, and Horse-Shoe Vetch. As I head into the amphitheatre area and take a picture of the English Chanel with the Black Mustard in front, the rain really starts to get torrential, whilst here a Herring Gull is spotted.
I go down to the viewpoint, of course the Guillemots are still there on the water, with the darker Razorbills in amongst them, the smaller albatross like Fulmar is seen gliding elegantly by the cliffs, other birds spotted were the Feral Pigeon, Herring Gull and Jackdaw.
I head back to the Learning centre via the small copse of Holm Oak, Sycamore, and Ash, as well as the ground level Harts-tongue fern, Stinking Iris, Nettles, Ivy, as well as the Enchanters Nightshade spreading all over the ground. I take cover in the Bird Hide, where I spot Great Tit, female Linnet, Chaffinch, and Wren using the bird feeder, whilst a Blue Tit is seen going into scrub and a Chiffchaff is heard.