From a distance the Kestrel appeared to be hovering over the Large Copse but of course it would have been hunting Small Mammals in the grassland of the Meadows. Most surprisingly when I saw a Green Woodpecker take off from the Lighthouse Road cutting it did not make the call I had heard throughout the morning. Black Caps were the most prevalent bird calls heard today with verbal Ping Pong being played in the gully. Hamish’s fantastic records included: Redstart; Garden Warbler; Grass Hopper Warbler; Grey Wagtail and a Hobby! I had a trio of Carrion Crow respond to the calls of an incoming Raven near the Large Copse. Here I recalled how on our Wildlife Forensics event a child found a corvid pellet which contained egg shell remains.
Both male and female Adonis Blues were seen amongst the tor grass whilst a few Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns were also seen. Hamish reported seeing Small Heath, Holly Blue and Clouded Yellow!
The Durlston Hay cut has commence from the West of the park, however, there are plenty of flowers to still see including: Fleabane, Red Clover, Eyebright and Rest Harrow whilst flowers of Scabious and Agrimony were fading. One Woolly Thistle plant had flowers: to open; open; gone to seed. This and other thistles will provide seeds for passerines such as Goldfinches of which three were seen this morning.
I found what was to me a new a third Badger latrine between Oxeye Daisy and the Upper Gully. Over the weekend I got to see and mainly hear badgers gorging on juicy Blackberries on the Priests Way. Our hedgerows were filled with fruits of Elder, Blackthorn, Hawthorn and even Apples and Pears. Wayfaring Trees had buds yet to open.
On Saturday night I saw two solitary female Glow-Worms, one surprisingly at the seaward mouth of the gully and the other on the edge of the diagonal path. The later was actually upon a snail although it did not to appear to be eating it at the time!