Oh dear I see a deer appear, a deer that’s very near
The deer that’s here is a Roe Deer, with a white patch on its rear
The deer begins to veer from here, I’ve startled it I fear
And now the deer that once was here will surely disappear
Walking in to the park this morning I spied what appeared to be the slightly shrivelled forms of a pair of Haresfoot Inkcaps, truly a marvellous welcome as I swung open the gate to the Woodlands. A sweep along the Bark Chip Path revealed no additional new fungi, but the mulch pile by Solent Road supported the remains of what appeared to be some sort of Slime Mould. I’m not sure which species as it was old and discoloured, possibly Dogs Vomit Slime Mould by location.
Before starting out I called in at the bird ringers to gather some intelligence. In between a bit of “ring and fling” I was told that Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart and a Nightingale were the notable captures of the morning.
The Car Park was still supporting a dwindling selection of wildflowers, with Yarrow, Ladies Bedstraw, Ox Eye Daisy and Wild Parsnip to be seen with a little looking. A few faded Painted Ladies were on the wing and as I headed out towards the Lighthouse the striking black and red form of a Red Admiral swished over my head and into the tangled Bramble of the hedgerow.
Today the skies were filled with various Hirundines, Swallows, House and Sand Martins also present. Yesterday I was lucky enough to catch glimpses of both Buzzards and Kestrels as well. Back in the present a Green Woodpecker was sitting in the middle of the Mile Marker slope, the prominent red streak on its head conspicuously visible.
Tramping down to the Clifftops a Shag whipped past on its way east, vanishing from sight as quickly as it had appeared. A few dirty white/brown Herring Gulls skulked around on the rocks below but otherwise the seas were gloriously still. I turned right and headed down to the Gulley, following the butterfly transect route through the long grasses.
I raised my binoculars to scan for birdlife and set them squarely on a Roe Deer sitting a little way in front of me that I had spectacularly failed to notice. It stood up and ambled a few paces away. I thought for a moment and decided to continue on my intended route. The park’s big enough for the both of us.