The weather shifts as the Earth tilts further away from the Sun. Shorter days, latening sunrise. South-westerly winds as the temperatures drop.
White horses form upon the seas. Sheets are tightened, and sails taut. Gusts rushing up over the limestone cliffs: twitching Tamarisk and planing Peregrine. Pleasing to find colour between the browning Teasel; lilacs of Sea Aster, and Creeping Thistle
Swallows in the sky, and Whitethroat heard below. Woodpigeons build in number. Look out for the passage of Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, and Linnet, all moving South for the Autumn migration.
Herring Gulls on the cliffs, Shags patrolling the water. Gannets rise and fall out to sea. The eerie silhouette of an Atlantic Grey Seal surfacing between the waves, with a second watching the fisherman get battered by waves upon the Durlstone rock.
A welcome shelter from the wind as I round the head. A bounty of fruit upon the hedges, harvest ready; Blackberry crumble, and Sloe gin. Dawn chorus now heard with wrestling Robins and ringing Wren. Tweets from Blue Tit, gentle charms of Goldfinch, and Long-tailed Tit.
Fleabane in flower, with whirring Grasshopper amongst the bloom. A flash of blue where the Emperor Dragonfly patrols above. Buddleia turning to seed, with fewer of it’s cone-shaped clusters of purple flowers on display. Hummingbird Hawkmoths harvest the last of this nectar, feeding in flight, unfurling a long probiscis into each floret.