On arrival it’s very blustery and there is a ‘charm’ of Goldfinch overhead.
Cutting through from the learning centre to the lighthouse lookout we spot a Peregrine Falcon.
Heading west down the Herston Trail, there’s another flock of Goldfinches. In the grass we spot a few purple Knapweed which brighten up the grass. Further down the trail, we see the usual Blackthorn with its sloe berries, and turned-up soil which might be from a Badger foraging.
We stop at the top of the Gully where Ross cuts down some dead Elder which is hanging over the path while I look around.
I can see the Jackdaws above and Stinking Iris with its bright orange berries, stopping to smell it.
Among the Jackdaws is a single Raven, identified by its diamond-shaped tail. We walk down to the Lighthouse bridge and on the way spot a flat capped white Field Mushroom, probably one of the last of the season.
At the Gully there are few birds to be seen, only a handful of Goldfinches, a Robin and a Wren. Within the gully there is plenty of Old Man’s Beard, along with Rose hips and Hawthorn, both of which have bright red berries which add some colour to the landscape.
On the way back up to the Lighthouse viewpoint there are small clumps vegetation, which lean in-land from years of prevailing winds.
We once again spot the Peregrine Falcon flying high, but this section of the path is quite open and blustery and other than the Jackdaws flying above, we can’t hear much.
Walking back towards the Learning Centre, I see Lichen covering large amounts of Blackthorn. Back at the Learning Centre we see a round mass in one of the trees and speculate over whether it is a type of fungus or a Grey Squirrel’s drey.