It’s a warm calm morning with the Sun already high in the sky having risen over the horizon and the Isle of Wight around 5am this morning. There’s a distinctive Mediterranean feel to the ‘Pinecliffe Walk’ as you peer through the old Black Pines, kick past the pinecones, and marvel at the great expanse of blue.
Through the woodland, sunny glades are speckled white and pink where Bramble and Privet have flowered. Below, the fluffy Horsetails compete with the Creeping Buttercup, and Hedge Woundwort attracting several Hoverflies. Small White, and Meadow Brown butterflies flutter between and await the nectar-rich Hemp Agrimony coming into flower.
A fresh brood of Peacock butterflies have emerged, their large red wings with captivating eyespots, fluttering all along the walk.
The branches of an Apple tree are weighed down into the path by its crop of ever-growing fruits.
It was enjoyable to hear some noisy fledgling Blue Tits. High pitched seeps from some Long-tailed Tits, and the ever present Chiffchaff repeating it’s two-tone call.
The air temperature cools as I descend towards Sunnydale, and beneath a taller canopy of mature Sycamore, Ash, and Wych Elm. Into the shade, with just dappled sunlight to arouse the Speckled Woods. The tiny Enchanters Nightshade flowers on show, replacing the depleted Ransoms. Spittlebugs amass around the towering Wood Dock and Wood Avens gone to seed.
I head all the way down to Durlston bay, crossing the landslip and following the flight of yet more Peacock butterflies across the boulder field. Someone has spent some time putting in some posts for access down to the beach, all the posts giving way as you lean on them, so spent a short time lifting them back out. Waves steadily lap the rocky shire with eleven Black Headed Gulls rafting together on the water.