To see a deer you should rise at dawn
And come to Durlston stealthy
Sometimes you’ll find a little faun
Or an adult fit and healthy
A Roe Deer stood beside the sign on the entrance road to the park as I approached this morning. As a car approached it bounded off into Smithfield. Long Meadow was a pleasant sight as always, with stacks of Yellow Rattle, Red Clover and Common Vetch, With Hedge Bindweed flowers on the other side of the path. Meadow Browns and Marbled Whites Fluttered above this multicolour tapestry, twirling around each other in a very appealing display.
Heading in to the Woodlands, the sounds of Wrens and Chiffchaffs emanated from the canopy. Turkey Tail fungus was colonising a number of the logs along the path, and Hartstongue Ferns peppered the forest’s understory.
The woodland was mostly quiet, and my return towards the castle was fairly uneventful. Near the end of the Isle of Wight Road, the woods were completely dominated by Holm Oaks. Nothing to be found on the ground but a sterile blanket of leaves. Past this dreary scene were small patches of Enchanters Nightshade and a few chattering Great Tits.
By Caravan Terrace, Mock Orange and Buddleia blooming marvellously. Ringlet butterflies flapped gracefully from flower to flower, the distinctive pattern of rings on the underside of their wings visible when they alighted.
The sea was slightly rough as I looked out over to Old Harry Rocks. Further along Guillemots and Shags flapped hard to stay aloft over the waves, and a single Lesser Black Backed Gull stood perched on the cliffside. As I watched, a Kestrel whizzed by, disappearing over the cliff edge, and another rode the updraft from the sea breeze high into the air. Awesome.