Drip-drip, drum and pitter-patter
Water falls in tiny spheres
Birds all cease their flights and chatter
They hide from mother nature’s tears
Though life they bring to seed and grain
We animals care less for rain
I started the day with another walk to the park by lamplight. This morning was warmer than yesterday with a thick blanket of stratus keeping us insulated overnight. Entering via the woodlands I spied little life stirring aside from our pals the Robins and Blackbirds. As I traversed Long Meadow the heavens opened and I was subjected to a broadside from the atmosphere. Hurrying to the Learning Centre I armoured up in some waterproofs then ventured fourth.
The first item if interest I passed was a Field Blewit, the wetness of the cap giving it a slight sheen. The log boarders of Large Copse were displaying Hairy Stearum and beyond in the Saxon Field a piece of dead wood supported several Jelly Ear. I also had a couple of nice fungi sightings yesterday when working in The Dell. In addition to the Blushing Brackets growing on some dead Willow I came across a large Southern Bracket and some vivid Cobalt Crust.
I’d been assigned the task of refilling the Hereford Cattle’s water troughs on my way around which seemed a little ironic given the circumstances. Nevertheless I headed out to the Quarry Fields and performed the required plumbing. As I was passing through the Drove I spied a few Wrens and an unexpected patch of Crow Garlic.
After the cows had been further watered I made for the Downs, where I was lucky enough to spot a Field Mushroom and some Egghead Mottlegills. On the Lighthouse Slope a single Ox Eye Daisy was in flower, with a single bloom of Rough Hawkbit along the Clifftops. Is it singles day at Durlston or something?
I trudged on through the wet to the Tilly Whim Caves, A Cormorant flying overhead as a few Shags criss crossed from east to west below. A few Fulmars were circling and the ledge was clustered with Guillemots. They don’t seem to mind the rain, but then again, they do spend a lot of time standing in their own poo.