Some rangers, full of good cheer
Spent twelve months working up here
From Doug, Katie, Ali and Paul
We want to wish you all
A Merry Christmas and happy New Year
The final diary of the year, and it falls to me to write it. I’ll endeavour to entertain you. The Car Park was stuffed full of Grey Squirrels and Rabbits this morning, with Great Tits chirruping away from inside Hawthorn bushes. I was pleased to see the remains of a Field Blewit or two on one of the verges, showing that even the car park can be a fungi haven. Two Green Woodpeckers called loudly to each other as I headed down to the woodlands, hoping to catch some more late fungi with the wet weather.
There were some impressive patches of Turkey Tail blossoming on the log margins of the path, but other than that I was initially disappointed in my investigations. I checked the log piles at the aviary with no luck, but did disturb a Wren which flew out abruptly as I started poking around. I seem to be making a habit of upsetting Wrens. A rasping sound, a little like someone twanging a ruler on the edge of a table drew my eyes up to the canopy where a Magpie was preening itself. Those creatures can make an amazing array of unpleasant noises.
Pausing to look out of one of the observation points, a few Greater Black Backed Gulls drifted past, and a large flock of around 30 Wood Pigeons flew by, the air reverberating with the sound of their wingbeats. I also caught a glimpse of a most unusual winter visitor, a Surfer heading out to sea from Durlston bay. A magnificent and intrepid creature, these specimens are known for their ability to get up incredibly early and endure extremes of weather and temperature for no apparent reason.
My fungal fortunes improved significantly as I returned to the Castle, where I sighted a mysterious purple fungus. After extensive research I've concluded the most likely candidate is a Lilac Bonnet. Also to be seen were patches of Rosy Crust, a yet to flower Red Cage Fungus still in its ball, and a fresh patch of Fairy Ink Caps.
Along the clifftops a line of 5 Shags were duck diving beneath the waves, and far in the distance a flock of black birds travelled Eastwards in a line. They were too distant to make out, and I watched as they made their way through the sky, heading forward to parts unknown. Happy New Year everyone.