Today’s Ranger patrol had me hunting for animal tracks and signs in preparation for this afternoons Wildlife Forensic session. Fortunately yesterday’s walk had been more fruitful, however, Fox droppings on the down land and flattend Tor Grass tussocks indicated mammal activity. This morning’s highlight had to be the Common Lizard basking on Gorse beside the diagonal path. Clinging onto the bush the reptile had flattened its stomach to maximise the surface area to be warmed by the sun. Its tail below its body was curved to create a J like anchor or seat!
Another good butterfly morning but will we see Monarch butterflies and a Hummingbird Hawk Moth and the castle again? The Learning Centre Buddleia showed three Red Admirals and two Painted Ladies, the later also having been observed upon Teasel. Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers were in greatest number although having dwindled upon recent days. Hoping to see some Speckled Woods on the sunny side of the Small Copse I was instead treated to a Wall which did briefly bask upon a dry stone wall.
It was relatively quiet on the bird front, although Common Gulls and Shags were seen from the cliff tops. A Rock Pipit duo were noted at the gully mouth whilst a gathering of ten Jackdaw had accumulated. A brief appearance was made by Carrion Crow and Magpie whilst a Green Woodpecker was only heard. Whitethroats, Robins and a Great Tit were seen and Blackcap heard.
Exploring a mammal track from the Large Copse to the Paddock lead to my finding a handful of Common Spotted Twayblade, albeit gone to seed, on the scrub and meadow margin.
Within the clear waters off the gully mouth a thread like sea weed (Gut Weed I believe) floated and spiralled like giant noodles in a briny soup. Sea Campion, Sea Aster, Rock Lavender, and very occasional Thrift provided flowers on the thin rocky soils on the Lighthouse Cliffs.