A garrulous bird of many colours hiding in the trees
Pink and white and black and blue, and others beside these
It stashes acorns like a squirrel, but screams like bloody murder
You do not always see the Jay, but you can’t fail to have heard her
I entered the Woodland to another chorus of birdsong this morning, the cries of Herring Gulls and coos of Pigeons fading in to the myriad notes of Chiffchaffs, Blackbirds, Great Tits and Blue Tits. Ransoms continued to occupy large sections of the forest floor, with a few scattered Daffodil, Herb Robert and the occasional Bluebell for company. I passed the rotting remains of a dead Oyster Fungus and continued on to the Learning Centre.
Chaffinches, Goldfinches and a couple of rowdy Wrens made themselves known to me as I headed off to track down a Mystery Fungi that Ben had reported to me yesterday. ID coming soon. Lawn Daises and Blackthorn blossom layered white over green as I approached the woodland path down to the Castle, a Green Woodpecker sounding somewhere in the distance.
I plodded along down the Diagonal Path past patches of Hemp Agrimony and great swathes of yellow Gorse flowers. Stopping at the Tilly Whim Caves I had a scan for Adders but could see none. That doesn’t necessarily mean they weren’t there, they have very good camouflage.
Jackdaws flew overhead, their beaks laden with twigs for nest building. Down on the cliffs the Guillemots were raising a great clamour, their voices joining together in what almost sounded like a seabird version of a yodel. A few Razorbills bobbed among them on the water, decidedly more reserved.
Rounding Durlston head another noisy group of birds came to my attention. Around half a dozen Jays were kicking up a ruckus beside caravan terrace. I ignored them as best I could, turning my thoughts instead to the nice patch of Great Periwinkle that I had just passed. Upon Caravan Terrace the Dell still hosted an impressive Southern Bracket as well as a small colony of Blushing Brackets on a standing dead Willow tree. Go check em out.