It was a very foggy drive and a densely foggy Wildlife Diary walk for Durlston. Starting at Field 34, I hear the Bird Ringers doing their work, a recording is playing making it difficult to know what bird sound was real and what wasn’t, with the sound of a my favourite birdsong made by a Song Thrush on the recording. Walking towards Boys Brigade field I hear the Robins nearby calling and singing away, as I pass by a mostly leafless Field Maple and an open gate. Here, amongst the Old-mans beard, Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Bramble scrub, a Blue Tit is heard, whilst a Goldfinch flies above me and a Magpie call in Large Copse.
I walk into Large Copse, a small mixed-woodland habitat with evergreens such as Black Pine and Holm Oak and deciduous trees such as Sycamore, Ash and Elm. On the ground, pine needles dominate, whilst Stinking Iris, Ground Ivy and some Nettles can establish at ground level. In Taskers, some Elm saplings are evident within the woodland edge of Large Copse, a few Robins call, and a Pheasant as well as a couple of Herring Gulls are heard right of me amongst the unseeable fog – like in a scary movie! Further up towards Saxon, Wild Privet is spotted within a diverse hedgerow.
Into Saxon, the Electric Fence for the cattle is the first thing I see (Cattle in north Saxon field), within the field, bits of Yarrow can be spotted strong in the current mild November weather (not for long!), a Blackbird is spotted, as well as the beautiful Hereford cattle, grazing away contently where they should be. Around Bristly Oxtongue and Great Horsetail are spotted.
Heading back to the Learning Centre via Ox-eye field and Lighthouse field some plants and fungi are spotted. Hawksweed Oxtongue, Meadow Buttercup and fungi that the app ‘Obsidentify’ recognises as Volvariella gloiocephala – though I cannot verify as I need to study fungi more!
Bird ringers spotted: Firecrests, Goldcrests, Goldfinches, Greenfinches, a Brambling, and Blue Tits to name a few birds