In and out, high and low, the tide moves twice a day
Neither men nor kings
Control such things
They move in their own way.
The sky was blanketed completely with low cumulus and stratocumulus clouds this morning, which made for a slightly foreboding walk into Durlston. No birds were to be heard at first, save for the distant rattling of a Magpie. All my scanning of the area revealed only the flanks of a Chiffchaff diving into cover. I set out towards Small Copse to find some fungi, which have the good manners to stay still while I try to identify them. A flock of 20 or so Jackdaws wheeled overhead as I walked, and a few scattered Self Heal flowers decorated the margins of the meadows.
Small Copse provided rich pickings, and after casting about between Stinking Iris plants I spotted a few interesting specemins, including a lovely King Alfred’s Cake, an as yet unidentified Bracket Fungus, possibly a Razor Strop Fungus. Also, a small patch of Glistening Ink Cap. This species is easily confused with the related Coprinus silvaticus, which is poisonous. It’s entirely possible I’ve made a mistake, so put your frying pans away.
Continuing on to Saxon Field I stopped to admire a game little Blue Tit, struggling hard against the strong winds. The field contained a couple of drooping Ox Eye Dasies, but all the birds were hiding so I decided to make a b-line for the gulley.
The Gulley was alive with birdsong as usual, but the vocalists were all keeping their heads down, with only a few Wood Pigeons perched in prominent positions. I picked out the strains of Stonechats and Robins by ear, but that was all I could do I’m afraid. Crossing over to the lighthouse road, a Bloody Nosed Beetle was trundling along the path before me. There was also a nice patch of Field Mushrooms growing beside the path, and a tiny little blooming Centaury flower. Beautiful.
I rounded off my circuit with a trip along the cliffs, Common Gulls hovering overhead in the strong winds. As I hoped, I ran into Hamish on the way round, who topped up my roster with his array of sightings. Off our shores, Gannets, Kittiwakes and an Arctic Skua are to be seen.