This morning our residential volunteer Greg joins me and we set off down the footpath along the side of Long Meadow. The hedgerow was waking up with a dawn chorus; the softer tweeting of a few Blue tits singing against the harsher tones of a Great tit. Nearby a Wren could also be heard with it’s quick, rapid-fire call. Somewhere amongst the Sloes and Rosehips, a Squirrel rustles through the hedgerow. A startled female Blackbird jumps out onto the path, it’s darker toned beak indicating a Scandinavian origin. Towards the centre we spot three Fieldfare together atop a Holm Oak, with five or six Redwings above heading west.
Nearby a couple Jays are alerted by our presence and take flight far over the hedgerow, before we even realise they were there. One day I will get a decent photo of a Jay! High in the sky, Greg points out a Sparrowhawk, far higher than I would have imagined they would fly. A sillohuette against the grey clouds, it circles surveying the landscape, maybe looking for its breakfast in the park. More Blue tits, a Robin, and a Chaffinch chat away to each other hidden out of sight.
As we enter the woods Greg spots a Songthrush perched in an Ash tree. Sod’s law that we don’t hear a peep out of a bird named for its song! Unbeknownst to me, Greg had also heard a Treecreeper somewhere deep amongst the undergrowth. Here in the woods, we are sheltered from the stronger winds in the meadow, and a light breeze gently rolls through the trees. Like little round balls of cotton, Snowberries gently sway atop their bare stalks. Below an old rotting tree branch is splattered in the bright orange jelly-like fungi called Witches butter.
At Durlston head, the smell of smoke is thick in the air from yesterday's bonfire. The rising sun's light emanates through the clouds onto the choppy sea. Snuffle marks on the ground, indicate the presence of a hungry Badger the night before, possibly digging up a juicy Earthworm to eat. Passing overhead Greg spies two Brent Geese and light Cormorant morph. It’s safe to say I am thankful to Greg for the birding help this morning!