A wonderful autumn morning, with the low autumn sun illuminating the park in shades of gold and bronze.
The hedgerows gleam as the sunshine reflects on silvery Wild Clematis and the crimson berries of Hawthorn and Honeysuckle look spectacular against the rusty brown of Bracken and the reds, golds and greens of Bramble leaves
Heavy ropes of Bryony berries hang from the branches of Blackthorn like strings of beads, with dusty blue Sloes, tiny black Wild Madder berries and the spectacular starburst seed pods of Stinking Iris.
Numerous tinkling flocks of Goldfinches swirl across the meadows and downs, while overhead, Swallows (including many of this year’s young lacking the long tail streamers of the adults) and House Martins are gathering, feeding up and gathering into ever-larger flocks as they prepare for the long journey ahead.
A Raven ‘cronks’ from high above the downs, with the mew of a Buzzard heard above Durlston Bay and the screech of a Peregrine along the cliffs. Rounding a patch of Blackthorn on the downs, I come almost face to beak with a Sparrowhawk, who flaps past just above my head, before rolling over a hedge and away.
At sea, a pair of Gannets pass by way out in the distance, the sun making their white feathers shine.
We are now about half-way through cutting the meadows, however there are still plenty of flowers to see and enjoy. From the little yellow ‘suns’ of Fleabane, to the ‘Dandelion’ flowers of Rough Hawkbit, the circular lilac flowers of Field Scabious and the purple daisy flowers of Sea Aster along the cliffs. A little less noticeable, below the Lighthouse some large patches of Rock Samphire are still in bloom – a tiny ‘seaside’ member of the Cow Parsley family, with fleshy leaves which help it survive the salty environment by storing water.
A few butterflies are enjoying the autumn sunshine, with Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Peacock and Speckled Wood all on the wing this morning