Thanks to the mist it was a morning which began with sound and silhouettes on the meadows. It was dry except for the dew underfoot. As often occurs Green Woodpeckers were heard but unseen. Fortunately a Blackcap was heard then seen in the Sallow beside the Wildlife Garden fence. From a Field Maple a Great Tit called. At the top of Taskers path a noisy group of Magpies noisily interacted with Carrion Crows. Chiffchaffs put in an appearance amongst the Tamarisk below the globe.
Boys Brigade remained awaiting its hay cut and the sward revealed a dry Orchid stem which held onto its seed pods. A few flowers appeared upon Fleabane, Red Clover, Horse Shoe Vetch, and even Oxeye Daisy flowers remaining!
From the coast path over two hundred Swallows and House Martins passed by heading Peveril bound across the edge of the bay. From the scrub thick Caravan Terrace ravine a Red Admiral flew up over the path and higher up the castle slopes. An immature Herring Gull remained fixed at top one of the rock outcrop below Durlston Head such that I observed it from the Aviaries and again below the castle. Other Herring Gulls and Common Gulls passed over the bay taken heading in the same direction (perhaps a circuit) as the Swallows and House Martins.
Within the Holm Oak of the Aviaries and coast path Grey Squirrels scurried overhead harvesting acorns. No doubt some of these stores will be deposited in the Meadows and down lands, unfortunately for us inadvertently aiding woodland succession! I found two different bracket fungi upon Holm Oak today, the first:Upon a living trunk with a pale brown upper side, pores underneath, a crenulated edge being overall the size of my hand. The second with reflection, might not have been a bracket being white with gills underneath and being on dead wood upon the ground. Hopefully names to follow!
I could not help but admire our work on the coast path overlooking Durlston Bay. We had reclaimed nearly 2 metres of the coast path from encroaching vegetation revealing the dry stone walls on each side. This also acts as a hay cut enable wildflowers to appear in the sunlight.
At 9:30 a report is received from Portland Bill of 5 to 6 Dolphins apparently feed amongst the fishing boats of the bill. At that time they were heading away from Durlston, but at least they are about!