Sitting silent, solitary
A Kestrel passes time
Its dining table
Is beneath the cable
A life is on the line
As I stepped out of the Learning Centre this morning I took a moment to admire the gorgeous views of the local landscape. The dappled brown and green of the Purbeck Hills, Old Harry half obscured by sea mist and the calm waters of the English channel, or La Manche if you prefer.
A little spell in the bird hide allowed me to spot a Grey Squirrel bounding through the grass, as well as a family of House Sparrows residing in a flowering Buddleia. Heading out to the meadows, Common Vetch, Hedge and Meadow Bindweed were providing attractive decoration, with Field and Meadow Grasshoppers delivering the ambient sound. Ladies Bedstraw, Wild Parsnip and Agrimony jutted out from the brown swaying grasses, providing this season’s injection of yellow to the colour palette.
Meadow Browns were again the most common winged creatures of the day, though small groups of Goldfinches fluttered past me on several occasions through my stroll. A Jay screeched out from several fields away, and the vaguely menacing caws of Carrion Crows were also regularly audible. As I continued on to the Downlands I also passed Marbled Whites and a Six Spot Burnet moth or two.
Passing a patch of mixed scrub I heard the heavy mammalian sounds of movement from within. Snapping twigs, shifting foliage and a few crunches indicated the presence of a Roe Deer, maybe several. I couldn’t see them, but it’s best to leave browsing animals alone so I continued without further investigation. Passing down towards the Lighthouse, the rising tones of a Skylark peeled out behind me. It looks like they haven’t left yet after all.
A stocky form passing overhead showed itself to be a Peregrine Falcon as I zeroed in with my binoculars. Flapping hard in the breeze, it made its way inland, presumably in pursuit of a warm breakfast. Beside the lighthouse a single Kestrel perched on the cables overhead, its brown and orange plumage looking slightly golden in the morning sun. Shags flew low over the still ocean, while the ever present Jackdaws circled above the cliffs. The sun beat down stronger with every minute as I continued as Durlston prepared for another day of heat. Might I recommend a siesta?