Fleabane is a common herb, once burned for incense
Against the biting insect it’s an excellent defence
On entering the park this morning I was greeted by a trio of Gatekeeper Butterflies, circling around one another. A Rabbit grazed leisurely on the grassy verges of the car park, and the croaking of a Carrion Crow was the only sound to break the stillness of the morning. Scabious and Knapweed poked through thickets of Bramble and Hawthorn as I made my way towards the woodland, and I was surprised to see a Hen Pheasant strutting along past one of the zebra crossings.
Long Meadow was a gently swaying mass of Agrimony spears, which gave way to an ocean of Fleabane, interspersed with islands of Common Vetch. The occasional Meadow Brown fluttered past, and I caught sight of a juvenile Robin hiding in the hedge, it’s slightly off colour plumage confusing me at first.
The woods were also very quiet, and I made my way past Hartstongue Ferns and flowering Privet in an unaccustomed stillness. Patches of Enchanters Nightshade grew hither and thither, and when I reached the bottom of Isle of Wight Road there was no avoiding the chorus of Herring Gulls cackling away in Swanage town.
Past the dead zone of Holme Oak there was a pleasant smelling Buddleia on display, and when I reached the timeline I was very pleased to see another Red Cage Fungus just beginning to emerge. To the person(s) who vandalised the last one, if you are reading this, please don’t do it again. What did fungi ever do to you?
Along the Clifftop Trail Teasels were just beginning to come into flower, and little patches of Red Valerian were also to be seen. I look forward to their full display. A Greater Black Backed Gull floated past, and on the cliffs below a group of five Shags rested on a rocky outcrop. Returning via the diagonal path a Six-Spotted Burnet alighted on a leaf. Those things are everywhere at the moment.