The spectacled amongst you will appreciate that rain hampers clear nature observation when outdoors. Despite having sharpened a pencil I had left it behind. Thus meant ink ran in my soggy note book, however, a return to the office secured another pencil. Fortunately, there were good sights in store. A large but brief flurry of birds overhead consisted mostly of House Martins. At first, I saw but seven Goldfinch perched amongst the branch tips of an Ash tree. These were to become part of a fifty strong charm that would bob, swirl and chatter and perform alongside, albeit briefly, a flock of Linnets.
Crossing the grassy footpath / glade through the centre side scrub were Blackbird, Blue Tits and Great Tits. A stand of Hemp Agrimony held onto some of its fluffy seeds. Ten Ox Eye Daisy flowers were still showing at the car park kerb. Before the timeline one solo Jay flew high at between the tree canopy cover. Protruding from the side of a cut Elm stump was a substantial Dryad’s Saddle which would have looked fine upon a bicycle. Recently I read a report from a recent Dorset Fungi Group visit which recorded forty-seven species! The name Scotch Bonnet made be wonder if there were a tartan fungus!
Through the castle wood path side Ash and Sycamore sapling grew towards the light. Outside of the wood the diagonal path had become a stream. A family of a good ten Long Tailed Tits fluttered path side a crossed between the scrub giving confidence to Great Tits, Blue Tits and Chiff Chaff also to emerge. Much of the Gorse held only vivid green needle however, in patches there were a dust of yellow Gorse flowers. In some places the bursting Stinking Iris seed pods revealed pale yellow fruits, however on the coast path they were red/ orange (to me!). On my walk to the castle ahead on the wood chip path I could see a spray of feather suggesting at least a Sparrowhawk attack. Upon closer in section the Woodpigeon carcass with a large wound indicated that the bird of prey had been disturbed early into its meal.
The sea cliff was relatively quiet. I saw three Rock Doves emerge and the high fly pass of Herring Gulls a Great Black Back Gulls. Looking east to Durlston Head a protruding rock stood out like a natural diving boards and had a Great Black Back Gull perched upon it. Yesterday David House reported seeing Great Black Back Gulls stealing mackerel off Gannets upon there emergence from the sea! Apparently, the gulls had watched from the cliff top then “pounce” down onto the unsuspecting Gannets below.