Starting from the Castle, I stand between the two pillars noticing the sad looking Buddleias that attracted so many butterflies and moths such as the Hummingbird Hawkmoth over the summer period. Here I see the Crows, Jackdaws, and Goldfinches above me, with the sound of Great Tits and a Goldcrest nearby. Spotted running up a Holm Oak in the smaller woodland to the left of me is a pesky Grey Squirrel.
I take the Pleasure Ground Woodlands following the Halloween Trail, where Holm Oaks are plentiful, another one of those Grey Squirrels scrambles up another Holm Oak – Stay away from our Pedunculate Oaks and other native trees I thought! Grey Squirrels are non-native invasive species that strip bark from our native trees damaging the ecosystem. As I walk, Sycamore saplings are spotted, a Black Pine is seen leaning towards the Dell, Bracken dominates to the right of me as I spot a Siskin. Many Linnets fly above me with the spectacular view of the Isle of Wight and low cloud covering the south side of the island.
Passing Solent Road, I notice that Winter-heliotrope is regrowing to the left of me. To the right however, I see an orange dog toy looking object, I take a closer look, it’s Red-cage Fungus – with many flies surrounding it and the stench so rife! After analysing it for about two minutes, I pass Bamboo, Cyprus trees, Hazel, Holly, Stinking Iris and their orange berries, and Shell Ferns.
Deciding to sit on the Egyptian seat, there is so much fauna activity happening around me. The sound of predominantly Long-tailed Tits and Chaffinches echoes through the woodland, the Long-tailed Tits seen with their long tails compared to the rest of their small bodies. Goldcrests, Grey Wagtail, Wren, Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, and a Fircrest were all heard amongst the diversity of sounds being created above me. Furthermore, a Grey Squirrel screeches, a Wood Pigeon flies out of the trees, and above the canopy, Crows, Rooks and Linnets can be heard and spotted.
On the way back so much more was spotted, such as the Veteran Beach tree, Bracket fungus on a fallen old monolith once an Oak species, and a Coal Tit spotted flying from Holm Oak to a smaller scrub.