Behold the Blackthorn fortress and its leafy battlements
With Dunnock, Chiffchaff and Blue Tit all hid in its extents
With stores of sloes to keep them fed and spikes to keep them safe
The Blackthorn fortress guards the lives of many feathered waif
I set off for the park this morning hoping to continue my good run of fungi sightings. I hadn’t even entered the Woodlands when I made my first sighting, a patch of Glistening Ink Caps growing on one of the roadside verges. Swinging open the gate I stepped through and checked on our little patch of Shaggy Ink Caps. They had decidedly gone over, with the caps reduced to a mass of black gunge and the stipes rapidly following behind. The nearby Bay Polypore in the Aviary Glade was looking a little better.
Heading on up I noted the abundance of Coral Spot Fungus along our path margins, as well as a Lacquered Bracket at the base of a Holm Oak. I’d hoped for more new arrivals, perhaps I was simply looking in the wrong places.
Back at the Learning Centre a nearby Elder was supporting a large colony of Jelly Ear, as well as a few Blue Tits. Above, a lone House Martin soared over the Wildlife Area. The early bird gets the insects after all.
Past the Castle I got a splendid view of a Goldfinch alighting at the very top of an Ash tree. As I watched it turned itself in profile to flash the rest of its distinctive markings. I couldn’t have asked for a better view. Shame none of the rest of the birds I looked at were as compliant. Dunnocks dived from view as soon as I even touched my binoculars, with Greater Black Backed Gulls and Rock Pipits sitting just outside comfortable viewing distance.
The Bird Man was down at the Tilly Whim Caves and at his direction I turned my attention to a mass of 50 or so Gulls further out to sea. They were likely feeding on a shoal of small fish. Among them he discerned Kittiwakes, Mediterranean Gulls and Sabine Gulls. I have no idea how, I could barely focus on them. Ever the gentleman, he insisted that the light was bad for getting a good look. I don’t think it made that much difference in my case.
Other sightings reported to me included Goldcrests, Firecrests, Siskin and Chiffchaff. Suitably humbled, I marched up the Mile Marker Slope and back to base. My eyes were drawn to a small winged form tossed up on a light gust. “Painted Lady” my brain said immediately. It settled and I trained my binoculars on it. OK, one point for Doug.