I stepped outside wearing a thick jacket, scarf and hat I only had forgotten gloves. Beside the car park there was an echoing interchange between two possibly three Robins. A Chaffinch put in a brief appearance and as often is the case a male Blackbird flew out of the scrub with calls of alarm. Meanwhile a silent Carrion Crow observed from an Ash tree. The latter held onto many of its seed pods whilst its Sycamore neighbour had cast all masts to the wind.
In South Field two dogs raced around the perimeter setting a pair of Jays into fleeing flight. A friendly dog walker handed me a found green and purple lead which can be claimed from the castle. Grey clouds crept over Ballard Down, however, for a moment the chalk cliff shone golden when the sun pierced through its own cloud cover. I watched leafless trees sway in the wind and pondered as to how much more they would move it they had not shed their leaves. Blackthorn stems creaked as the rubbed against each other.
One Herring Gull flew down the gully then a flock of forty Woodpigeon ascended from Lighthouse Green. As the flock passed over the wares several Blackbirds called, perhaps coincidently. A duo of Goldfinches few by then ten Linnets flew in the opposite direction.
Looking into the upper gully I spotted a few evergreen trees, upon investigation I was relieved that they were not Holm Oak but instead one was a Bay Tree, which I confirmed with a leaf tear and sniff. Another viewed from a steep grassy glade was a Holly, whose leaves had no thorns due to being beyond browse height. A creeper of Clematis, thick as my arm, rose up from the ground. Meanwhile fresh palm sized Burdock leaves populated the ground. I chose to keep amongst the shelter of trees and scrub which led to my following cattle tracks. I ventured into grassy glades where “trip wires” of Bramble and Clematis attempted to colonise the sward. At the margins were crisp, brown dry stand of dry Bracken fronds. True ferns were in the understory shade beside Moss sleeved branches. Harts Tongue Fern with its solid fronds had lines of spores on its underside, whilst a neighbouring Buckler fern did not. Truly I had a real Stinking Iris “corn cob” mimic as its orange seeds had faded to a pale yellow in contrast to its neighbours! On a stony rabbit grazed glade I found Wild Thyme and Sheep’s Sorrell leaves
In a maternal manner one of the Hereford cattle was liked the rump of its calf, which did not complain! A substantial carpet of cowpat coat much of Light house Road beside the Quarr. I stroked a spent Teasel head empty of seed, perfect for Christmas decoration!