I believed most people would have understood why the Stour Valley Bird Ringers elected to cancel this weekend’s Bird Ringing Public Demonstration. Unfortunately, but sensibly tonight’s Stargazing has been cancelled by Wessex Astronomy. However, two of our moth traps still went out last night which former Ranger Simon Breeze is scheduled to investigate!
A visiting moth enthusiast reported over sixty-five species of moth having been captured before the rain came in. Amongst the migrant moths were a score of migrant Palpita Vitrealis (I believe) and eight Scarce Boarder Swain. Also captured were, a Delicate, Oak Rustic, Flame Brocade, Sombre Brocade. Interestingly yesterday afternoon we had a Hummingbird Hawk Moth visit the castle shop, which led to our clearing away spider webs to protect the moth!
When I followed the temporary stream down the diagonal path at least five Robins were heard near Ron’s Rest Bench and a male Great Tit put in appearance at the path margin. I was pleasantly surprised to see several yellow Gorse flowers nearby. Overhead flew a chattering charm of a Goldfinches.
The rainfall made the use of binoculars less favourable! A pair of Shag flew low and eastward over the sea close the cliffs, whilst the Condor ferry headed for the Channel Islands. One lone immature Herring Gull perched on Tilly Whim Ledge. On the cliff top I disturbed a score of Rock Doves which had chosen to spread themselves across coast path bedrock steps. Anvil Point Lighthouse lamp was active indicating the poor visibility created by the rain. Indeed, some twenty-seven millimetres of rain had collected in the rain gauge. Whilst there was no Winterbourne, there was a small but steady waterfall into the sea at the gully mouth.
A pair of Meadow Pipits were briefly seen as were the usual Carrion Crow and Jackdaws upon the down land sward. Above the mile markers a Holm Oak Acorn had been separated from its cup. The marking on the tough nuts skin indicated a bird had liberated the insides! One single Magpie investigated the car park margins for whatever it might find. Regardless of the weather tonight we will show the film “Wild Strawberries” as part of the Purbeck Film Festival.