On my commute in, my cars external thermometer dropped to 1.5c and a little ice had formed on the windscreen. However, it was a splendid autumn sun that rose over Durlston and released its golden rays when permitted by the drifting clouds. A few of my colleagues and two keen volunteers were on site at 6:30am and reported five adult Badgers and on Fox from this morning.
My mornings highlight was the gathering of House Martins on the gully overhead wires. Luckily I saw over on hundred chattering and fluttering House Martins upon the overhead telegraph wire. I witnessed their number increase spreading both inland and seaward along the wire. I spotted individuals stretching and preening but without the binoculars they looked like large fluttering butterflies in the vicinity of the wire. This cerclage of House Martins increased to two hundred with their spreading onto the electric cables and swirling about the lighthouse as well. In the time I took me to walk down the gully and around the lighthouse the birds had dispersed from the wires. Life Is Change! When walking back up the gully slopes I saw a half dozen Magpies perched together on top of an Ash.
Clearly there must have been insects on the wing to feed this mass of birds. I deliberately headed back via the Small Copse and was rewarded, as I had hoped, by seeing a basking butterfly. Appropriately sunning itself on the dry stone wall was a Wall butterfly! From the taller grassland of the wares I set up a couple of Craneflies. I found yet another Wasp (Tiger) Spider spent egg sack trodden into a trampled grassland path.
Yesterday I had been harvesting fruits from Elder berries and Rosehip. The sweet and citrus scent of the latter adhered to my fingers. Durlston was better blessed with Sloes and Haws, although I spotted a clump of dangling Black Bryony fruits which resembled grapes but for being red. Burdock stood patience waiting for a large mammal human or cattle to brush past and transport one of its marble sized burrs.
Hamish report Durlston’ s first Ring Ouzel of the autumn along with: a Merlin; Tree Pipit; Meadow Pipit;, Pied, Grey & Yellow Wagtails as well as numerous Stonechats over the Meadows.
Bird Ringers Ian and Paul reported good numbers of Chiff Chaff and Blackcap being rung. Goldcrest, Robin, Meadow Pipit, Willow Warbler also amongst this morning’s count.