After a balmy summer day yesterday, this morning is a reminder to treasure those days, as autumn is not too far away!
A gusty south-westerly wind rattles through the grasses in the meadows, making a White Poplar near the reservoir dance, flashing the silver undersides of its leaves, while in the woodland, Holm Oak leaves bounce along the paths.
Shaggy Parasol mushrooms are starting to appear around the woodland floor, with glossy black King Alfred’s Cakes on the branches of Holm Oak and purplish Jelly Ear on Elder. The curious brown flowers of the parasitic Ivy Broomrape can also be found here and there (with its relative, Carrot Broomrape also found in the meadows).
Grey Squirrels chase through the branches above me, like excited children in school on a windy day, with a Dunnock sifting through the carpet of dry leaves along the edge of the Coast Path.
In the sheltered canopy above Caravan Terrace a few Goldcrests weave among the branches, their piercing calls cutting through the wind, with the harsh ‘cronk’ of a Raven, flapping ponderously across Durlston Bay.
A few Gannets passing by Durlston Head – brilliant white against the steely sea and sky, with Oystercatcher, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Shag also seen.
A variety of clifftop flowers brighten the morning, with Sea Aster, Golden Samphire and Rock Samphire looking especially fine.
The meadows are also still looking colourful, with Meadow Vetchling, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Rough Hawkbit and Common and Hoary Ragwort also in bloom. Along the verges, giant Woolly Thistles and Teasels are almost as tall as me, growing alongside the huge leaves of Burdock.
On the path in Centenary, a Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle threatens, scorpion-like, curling it’s abdomen up towards me, with Bloody-nose Beetle also seen.
A Peregrine Falcon hurtles knife-like just below the clifftop, with Kestrel and Sparrowhawk seen elsewhere around the Park.