A proper autumn morning - ‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’, with a thick fog shrouding the park this morning, muffling sound and turning trees into mysterious silhouettes.
Dew sparkles on grass stems in Long Meadow, where the hush is shattered by the manic cackle of a Green Woodpecker – vivid green and scarlet among the murk, bobbing across the field, before disappearing into the mist.
Below the coast path in Durlston Bay, the plaintive cries of a Buzzard rise up, though the bird itself is invisible in the fog.
Smaller birds are busy among the rapidly thinning canopy, with Blackcaps, tiny Goldcrests, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Long-tailed Tit all busy feeding up above me.
A stroll down through the woods, to see how work has progressed during my week away – the next month or two will see lots of work underway in this area, including restoring walls, resurfacing paths, repairing and replacing viewpoints and woodland management work. We will need to close some paths for short periods so that this work can take place, so please bear with us – the results will be worth it!
Overhead, trees are shedding leaves, with the paths carpeted with the leaves of Sycamore, Holm Oak, Horse Chestnut and Ash. A Song Thrush scuffles through this carpet in search of breakfast, with a Dunnock also shuffling along the foot of the scrub on Caravan Terrace.
Our Bird Ringing Demonstration is continuing as I write, with Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Goldcrests and Meadow Pipits all recorded this morning. As I watched, dozens of Swallows and House Martins circled overhead as they start to gather for migration.
To the south, the cliffs are a little clearer, with former Ranger Hamish spotting Mediterranean Gull and Little Gull passing by, with a Dartford Warbler among the Gorse along the Diagonal Path.
A quick glimpse of a Sparrowhawk diving over a hedge near the Learning Centre, while on the grass nearby, Bristly Ox-tongue, Wild Carrot, Wild Parsnip and Red Bartsia are still in bloom.