Lighthouse beacons burning bright
Pierce the morn with beams of light
A sign, a warning, perhaps a hail
To all who venture out by sail
But though the lights are shining free
There’s not a single ship at sea
A full eight oktas of stratocumulus this morning with a very light veil of mist in the distance. I walked past a few rosettes of Bristly Ox Tongue as I crossed the Car Park and headed towards the Castle. I made out the calls of Robins, Blue Tits and a Green Woodpecker as I travelled, with a few Goldfinches and a suspected Firecrest chiming in for good measure.
As I made my way down the Coast Path a Jay fluttered away into the Tamarisk. A few Jackdaws looked down at me from vantage points along the Café terrace as a Dunnock alighted on the bank below them, showing off its pleasantly striped plumage. There was also a rather attractive patch of Blushing Brackets on a Willow at Caravan Terrace. As I approached the Clifftops the distinctive ke-ke-ke call of a Kestrel sounded from below and I looked down to see the bird launch into the air and disappear into the woods above Durlston Bay.
I stooped to pick up a sweet wrapper lying conspicuously in the path, no doubt some debris left over from Christmas. As I did so I heard the call of a Wren from parts unknown, impressively loud for a bird of its size. Further along the water was crowded with Guillemots, several of whom were making a distinctive “slapping” noise as they beat their wings against the water. Also about were a few passing Shags and Greater Black Backed Gulls. Above them a single Fulmar was circling slowly, still managing a comfortable glide despite the relatively still conditions.
St Catherine’s Lighthouse was blinking away in the distance and as I approached the Tilly Whim Caves I saw that our very own Anvil Point Lighthouse was responding in kind. Strangely enough though I scanned from east to west I couldn’t make out a single ship afloat. Later as I made my way back to the Learning Centre I saw a Brittany Ferries ferry making it’s outward journey. Poem accurate at time of writing.