With the last day of August upon us already, the Park has a definite autumnal look to it. The hedgerows a mass of early fruiting with the dark red haw berries covering the Hawthorn and the purple balls of sloes packed tightly to the Blackthorn.
Looking westwards a glorious rainbow, one end on the downs the other piercing into the hay bales gathered in the meadows, a wonderful sight, it just meant as I enjoyed it that I was getting wet!!
Overhead the calling of a Yellow Wagtail, flying close enough to me to see the colours for once, as it looped across the sky, long tail wagging as it went.
The blackberries on the Brambles, turning juicy (had to have a couple for breakfast), the squeak of a Bullfinch made me turn to watch one of my favourite birds landing in amongst the scrub, where the pink fronted male perched on the strand of Black Bryony, whose big red berries caught the sunlight.
This damper weather has encouraged some snails to move, with the spiral shell of Cochlicella acuta easily seen as it slowly clambers along the stems of some Thrift. As I climbed one of the stone stiles the flat dark brown Wall Snail was spotted, the disc like shell sliding across the limestone.
On the short turf around the cliff the spiral stems of the Autumn Ladies Tresses orchid can still be found, but they are mostly now dotted with the brown dead flowers as they turn to seed capsules.
The Carline Thistles were shining golden as they sun caught them for a moment, while alongside, the purple flowers of the Dwarf Thistle are still showing, the prickly leaves of this little thistle can catch you unawares if sitting on the ground!
Flying past, the westerly breeze at its rear was a Shag, which almost screeched to a halt as it arrived at its preferred rock – feathers and tail acting as a brake as it swerved.
Further out skimming along above the white crests was a brilliant Gannet, the black wing tips and white body quite unmistakable.