We are now halfway through the year, the longest day of the year just behind us and summer should really be in full show, but alas its not. Yesterday’s downpour has soaked the paths and mud is clagging up under the shoes. The Slugs are now on mass exodus from one side of the path to the other, dodging (well, they aren’t exactly agile enough to dodge, more running the gauntlet! – I know, the cant run either!) the stompy wet feet of a Durlston Ranger.
Today I was doubly lucky. One of my favourite birds, well a bird my whole family really favour, made two appearances. The Bullfinch. He sits so proud on top of the Hawthorn, his bright red jacket gleaming and his crisp black hat glistening with what little sun is escaping from the clouds. Firstly at the start of my walk he appears, my attention initially drawn the sharp shrill of a Greenfinch. Then on the next tree he sat, watching the Greenfinch as it took off, going in hot pursuit, the two of them playing a game together. My next Bullfinch encounter was on returning to the workbase and one was sat on some Blackthorn, exhaling its sad bicycle sound, a bit like someone breathing out of a partially blocked nostril! That’s the best way I can describe it!
In the meadows the orchids are expanding, there are always more of them when I go back. The lilac of the Common Spotted Orchid, its flowers, to me at least, seem to resemble the ruffles that run down the front of a shirt, like the singer Prince would of worn. Covering another patch was a huddle of Pyramidal Orchids, their dark crimson flower trailing off to a point, like hot pokers. Also showing in the meadows were Pale Flax, Selfheal, Dandeloins, OxEye Daisies, Wild Carrot, Yellow Rattle, Cow Parsley and Birds Foot Trefoil. Plenty of Bloody Nosed Beetles are crisscrossing the paths and tracks, so keep an eye out for them if you are coming up here. They are beautiful insects. Birds seen or heard today were Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Jackdaw, Chiffchaff and at the top of the Lighthouse Lawn 2 Green Woodpecker, darting after one another, chuckling as they went.