A Robin foraged about a picnic table but it was a small fresh Blue Tit which demonstrated success. Eventually, after scouring the bark of a Holm Oak the Blue Tit appeared with a small creature in its beak. A Chaffinch scoured the path beside the “What will you do with the gift of your life” plinth. From one of the castle swift boxes I heard the vociferous calls of the young Great Tits. A Peregrine Falcon appeared from beyond Durlston Head and as with many other birds to come in travelled eastward with the wind. There was more Jackdaw activity than I have seen for a while with a score finally having accumulated near the observation point. One Jackdaw had obtained a wholemeal roll crust whilst another discarded the dog fur that ensnared its beak. Amongst the three Gannets seen this morning the surprise was the one sat upon the sea close to the Guillemots at the foot of the cliffs. At first I assumed the Gannet to be a stray Swan! I watched it for some time, its yellow head markings were faint. The bird preened and certainly looked in good shape after flapping its wings a wiggling its tail! Of the seventy birds upon the sea I counted eight Razorbills rafted together.
Simon our ride on mower volunteer appears to have fuelled the mower on a certain Dutch Larger having “taken it to places no mower normally reaches” …. No complaints! Beside the Noon bench the Sycamore masts rattled in the wind whilst younger trees swayed completely.
Both Pink and White Valerian were in flower out of near to walls. Stinking Iris is coming into flower along the coast path even appearing through the Tamarisk. Beside Durlston Bay one flower was appearing in a washed yellow more like Flag Iris but surely not in this location! As I took a peak onto Caravan Terrace my face was tickled by dropping Buddleia tip and Old Man’s Beard tendrils supported by Sycamore.
Further along the coast path two types of both the familiar large white flowers of Hedge Bindweed and the smaller pink and white flowers of Field Bindweed were beginning to show. Meadow Vetchling, with its slender leaves has joined the yellow flowers on display.
Below the mile markers in the short sward I thought I had found the remains of an egg shell but no… simply a fresh Stomach Fungi.