The mooing of the Hereford Cattle accompanied my early rounds, reminding me to check they were still safely ensconced in Centenary and Ox-Eye Daisy Meadows. An escapee, one large female, was standing patiently waiting for me to open the gate to return her to the herd!
Suddenly nipping in and out of the hedgerow was a Sparrowhawk, the brown plumaged bird jinking up and over the leaves and twigs of the berry strewn Blackthorn and Bramble.
In comparison the chestnut back and grey head of a male Kestrel could be seen as it perched on the telephone wires across the gully. Right on the cliff edge another bird of prey was standing, this a Peregrine Falcon. The grey back blending in very well with the rocks around it, however as I walked a little further along the path the flecked chest could be seen as could the mask like colouration across its face and the yellow beak making .
On the cliffs just a couple of Rock Pipits and a few Pigeons, maybe this is what the Peregrine was waiting for?
In the area a smattering of flowers are still in bloom with occasional catches of Thrift, a few pink flowers amongst the numerous brown seed heads. Also the pale lilac Sea Aster with its dark green leaves in marked contrast to the pale Rock Samphire, while over the edge the remains of the Durlston Sea Lavender can still be identified.
Cackling loudly was a flock of 30 or so Jackdaws, who swooped and then landed on the tops of a Hawthorn bush, disturbing as they landed a charm of Goldfinches who took flight in formation alighting on the prickly Gorse.
As I looked at the downland turf, the grey stems of the Autumn Ladies Tresses came to my notice, once I had seen the first one these seemed to pop up all. These, out latest orchid, show the spiral of white flowers up the stem.
Amongst the nearby long grass, a Wasp or Tiger, as I prefer, Spider, a beautiful yellow, orange and white striped spider, was standing in its web waiting for some other insect to arrive.
A large female Great Green Bush Cricket clambered along the stem of the Tall Fescue, while a selection of butterflies were also spotted including Adonis and Common Blue, Small Heath, Meadow Brown and Small Copper.