Upon arrival at the Learning Centre the sweet scent of fresh woodchip was a pleasant greeting. However, the dark grey, wet and windy morning was less welcoming.
As I crossed the car park only a Magpie, with its contrasting pied feathers colours, stood out as it flew between tree cover. A second such bird flew between the castle and the Holm Oak cover. Similarly, a few Jackdaws made the briefest of appearances glimpsed in between the evergreen leaves, however, their calls were more noticeable. A Grey Squirrel scampered along a drystone wall beside the timeline avoiding venturing out into the rain. Some of the castle guttering overflowed suggesting a localised blockage to be resolved.
Whilst the impermeable clay of the meadows let to “milky tea” like puddle forming, the permeable limestone of the coast path must have been inundated. Streams not only ran along the coast path but also down the limbs and trunks of trees creating small frothy puddles on the ground.
Walking down to the Observation Point the “Mr. Tickle” like far reaching limbs or branches bounced above my head. At the view point itself droplets of windblown rain hit my face, however, the strongest blasting was to be near Tilly Whim. I took shelter in the Dolphin watchers hut I realised the need to update the marine records on display! Outside a solo Shag as expected few low over the waves. The only other sea birds I noted was a pair of Great Black Back Gulls which flew west along the cliff line. The smaller and paler winged individual took more interest in close inspection of the waves and I assumed this to have been a juvenile. A score of Rock Doves shot up from Tilly Whim perhaps in response to a crashing wave.
I head towards the flashing light of Anvil Point Lighthouse to see what the conditions brought to the gully mouth. Although there was not yet a Winterborne a coast path stream led to a gully mouth water fall trickling into the sea. Crashing waves and sea spray just licked the wave cut platform. Amongst the waves the occasional and relatively clam spray of water from the Blow hole less impressive, like a gentle release of steam pressure.
Several Apple trees expose by recent walling works leaned parallel with the ground indicating the prevailing wind direction! Despite being five inches in diameter. Upon opening a window in the bird hide a couple of micro moths escaped from the gaps between window and its frame. I could hear the calls of hiding Blackbirds. Below the seed filled bird feeders an odd object was place upon an ant hill. Was that a crab shell of a puff ball of some sort? Apparently not but instead a pumpkin released for natural repurposing!