Durlston had gust up to 35 miles per hour overnight. That led to a walk along the tree lined paths looking for tree damage such as fallen / weakened windblown trees, hung up branches or damaged limbs. Luckily, I found only a fallen Sycamore beside the “Sir Walter Scott” bench and significant detached Large Leaved Lime branch. Fortunately, the later was such that I with a push I got it to fall away from the adjacent path. There were two places were branches had dropped further to interfere with the wood coast path users, however, not obvious dangerous were seen.
The two Jays and numerous Squirrels I assumed to be taking advantage of the flood of Holm Oak acorns upon the ground and paths. In addition, the wind had detached Branching Lichens and Sloes from the hedgerow and to the path camouflage created by fallen leaves. Three score of Jackdaws arose from tree cover beside the car park side.
Bristly Ox Tongue flowers hugged the ground in a verge. It was another day of Goldfinch activity, although in groups a dozen at a time. Such a group were seen at long meadow and beside the centre. It was good to see eighteen at rest in a bare tree, which enabled me to enjoy their vibrant colours. Beside Long Meadow I initially heard what I suspected were either Firecrests or Goldcrests within a Field Maple alongside Longmeadow. A group of at least six golden “Mohican” striped birds were flitting amongst the trees branches. I am going to state I believe these were Goldcrests as I had study them for a while to make sure they were not a group of Warblers.
Whilst a Horse Chestnut displayed fingertip sized buds and neighbouring English Oak had a cheery gall and what appeared to be buds opening to display fresh leaves. Or perhaps these were another type of gall!
Vibrant Yellow Witches butter one of the Jelly Fungi, was upon a Holm Oak log along with what I believed to be small Turkey Tail bracket fungi. At the base of a large three stemmed as tree (number 321!) I found a very tough fungus which I had to put some effort to push a key into it. This one I will investigate further for the trees health!
Beside the former landskip / Tilly Whim In s old location a Herring Gull called out from the neighbouring roof top. Hamish reported another Asian vagrant this time a Pallas’s Warbler. Also yesterday we had a report of Dolphins having been seen from the observation hut!