It was with great relief that I found the Herford Cattle had not breached the electric fence line in the gully. Although I could only count twenty eight of the thirty two cattle, the sound of snapping twigs and branches declared there were some deep in the gully bottom scrub! Upon the trampled grass desire line, which runs parallel to the coast path, between the gully mouth and Lighthouse I found a second colony of the of the small, curly tipped, yellow Meadow Coral Fungi.
On the sea cliffs I observed Peregrine Falcon on a protruding ledge below the globe. I thought the bird to be eating as it appeared to grasp something with its beak from its talons. After hearing the Peregrine call a second observation revealed a pair of Peregrines close together upon separate promontories. Later upon the coast path, then higher up on the down land I found downy Pigeon breast feathers perhaps related to the Peregrine’s meal? On the sea ledge below the falcons sat a Greater Black Backed Gull which was soon to be joined by a second one. Earlier I heard an unseen Oystercatcher calling from somewhere near the base of the cliffs.
A solitary Firecrest appeared amongst the Holm Oak near the observation point. I had a surprise encounter with a Pheasant which flew up from the coast path below the castle and above Durlston Bay. The bird flew into seaward tree cover. A Raven flew calling over the castle and headed over the Aviaries Woodland. Soon a second Raven appeared and perched from a bare Sycamore beside the Noon Bench. Shortly I would see one atop a Mile Marker. I admired the “pollarded” stem of one Tamarisk bush. Its trunk was near eighteen inches in diameter, covered in lichen and moss but displayed light feathery branches due to repeated trimming so to maintain sea views.
Whilst I had seen Rabbits first thing grassing the short grass, I found signs of Squirrel and perhaps other Small Mammal activity upon the down land. This came in the form of nibbled acorns, empty acorn skins and cups. Perhaps these were taken from Squirrel or Jay stores! Back on the cliff tops Wild Madder berries still decorated the Blackthorn which it had climbed through. A flock of some forty Wood Pigeon made a brief coastal investigation before heading back inland. I had been synchronised with the Racing Pigeons this morning such that I saw them swoop up and over the condensation clad glass of the observation point.