After a very wet (30mm of rain) night the morning arrived with much of the same, so a morning to don the wellies and waterproofs and splosh in the puddles – of which there are many.
Not a lot a wildlife to be seen as most of it was hiding in amongst the scrub, waiting for the dripping of rain to cease.
The most evident creatures were Carrion Crows who were floating across the sky plus a few cackling Jackdaws above the meadows.
The occasional piping call of a Meadow Pipit caught the ear as did by the coast those of a Rock Pipit.
As we walked across Saxon field, the shape of a Sparrowhawk gliding at head height caught my attention, this brown bird then landed on the top strut of the gate, facing away from us, but looking large, therefore due to the size a female was the presumption, she then took flight along the drove.
The Herefords are now in Smithfield and Boys Brigade fields, these were unable to be cut this year so grazing is the way to get them cut and managed.
A splash of white from the Yarrow plants mixed with the yellow of Rough Hawkbit and the odd purple ragged head of Greater Knapweed.
The wonderful bird song that filled the morning air was a lovely way to be introduced to the morning ranger walk. Today I ‘Catherine, Apprentice Ranger’ joined Katie on the early morning round. We had a very damp walk with a few wildlife spots. With a curiously calm sea and the sun just breaking through the clouds, by the end of our walk it promised to be a brighter day at Durlston.
Hopefully I will dry out soon!