A mass of green climbs over the wall
It’s fuelled by sun and rain
We tried to push back its endless crawl
Now the tide comes in again
Last week I gave a well-received wildlife tour of Durston’s Car Park and I thought it would be nice to re-create it in diary form. Here goes: Stepping out of the office door my eyes were immediately drawn upwards to the sounds of Goldfinches, alighting on the branches of an Ash tree. Beneath its canopy several Elders and Willows were coming into leaf and below them were a few patches of Whitlow Grass and the still closed flowers of Lesser Celandine. A little sunshine will wake them up.
Lawn Daises were scattered all over the verges, with abundant Dandelions and the leaves of a few Bristly Ox Tongue yet to bring fourth flowers. Field Speedwell and Ground Ivy (actually a member of the Mint family) were also in flower, with the taller Grape Hyacinth and Bluebell standing over them on the grassy verges. Blackthorn blossom was abundant and I couldn’t resist stopping for a smell. If you’re on a diet but still want to enjoy a sweet treat, by all means indulge as well.
Dunnocks were calling out, one alighting on the red twiggy mass of a Dogwood bush. Chiffchaff calls also resonated through the air, and the unmistakable sounds of Green Woodpeckers and Great Tits were also clearly audible. I was surprised to spot a few Cowslips in the Car Park, growing not far from their more familiar relatives the Primroses.
Car Park tour completed I dropped down to the Coast Path where I composed a short poem about Wild Clematis. Whilst I was writing it, a Kestrel flew past and began circling above Durlston Bay, its small frame and patterned plumage setting it apart from the Herring Gulls and Fulmars also on the wing.
Plodding on past Great Periwinkle and Dog Violets I approached Anvil Point Lighthouse. I sighted a pair of Wheatears on the way that sat silently as I passed. The path beyond showed a few budding Thrift flowers, soon to be in bloom. The show is only just beginning folks.