I must have been one of the first to enter the car park this morning, disturbing a group of four Magpies and two Jays as I drove through. After parking up, the slam of my door startled a Green Woodpecker, flashing it’s lemon lime feathers and bright red cap, before quickly diving into the hedge.
Following a rumble to the east, I decided to head into the woods where the trees grew louder and livelier as I walked closer to the clifftop. A keen easterly breeze rolled across the bay, over the undercliff and through the woods. Chilly. I had slight regret about my choice to wear shorts, but much like the postman – a ranger is never quite ready to let go of Summer!
I walked down to the ‘Shed’, where I joined a few volunteers to go through a moth survey trap we had set up the night before. It had stayed dry, but was certainly a quiet night with just 9 moths counted – maybe the cold and wind got to them too! We identified two Black Rustic, 2 Beaded Chestnut, 2 Feathered Ranunculus, 1 Pale November, 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character, and lastly 1 Flame Brocade – a migrant species that travels over the channel from as far as the Mediterranean or Africa!
After finishing with the moth trap, I peeked over the fence from the Shed to see how the ‘Pleasure Grounds Project’ landscape works were coming along. I was impressed to see the new path looping over the aviaries stream is nearing completion and the humungous stone slabs, which lay across the Victorian stone footbridge, have been lifted off - ready for the restoration of the foundation walls below.
I felt very autumnal on my return through the woodland, with Sycamore seed ‘helicopters’ falling around me and the rustle of dead leaves at my feet. A charm of Goldfinches could be seen flying overhead, now in their duller winter plumage, and the occasional Wren heard chirping away amongst the undergrowth. Bright splashes of colour can still be seen along the hedgerows with brilliant blue Sloes, rosy red Haws, and the last of the juicy Blackberries waiting to be picked by passing hand or beak!
Further reports of passing Teal, Red breasted Merganser and Brent Geese, plus 2 Dolphins far out at 8.30am.