I walked into the wind just to reach the learning centre and saw dark grey clouds to the west. A waning gibbus Moon was nevertheless visible in the sky. A steady “milk bottle” type whistle came as the wind passed over a hole in one of the City of London bollards. What I thought was a Rabbit, scampering between anthills, was proven to be a Grey Squirrel. Its having leapt from grassland into the lower branches of a Hawthorn clearly determined that!
As a shower rained down, I tried to remain sheltered. From silent woodland cover I venture out onto the open diagonal path in favourable conditions. A small stream trickled down much of the path, but it was no longer raining. I explored down slope reclaimed glades. Amongst the Gorse stump regrowth and needle littler were patches of bare soil. Amongst the bare ground colonisers were snare like Blackberry stems, a good cover of Woodsage, Thistle basal rosettes of leaves, Ground Ivy and of course Bristly Ox Tongue.
Overhead came the first passage of Racing Pigeons. Their second pass appeared to have triggered the flight of a quartet of Jackdaws from the coast path to further inland. The coast path puddle beside Tilly Whim steps had finally drained away. Apart from the westward flight of at least five Great Black Back Gulls, the sea cliffs appeared devoid of life. However, a more determined scan led to activity being spotted about Durlston Head. With somewhat arching flight in and out of the cliff face a Peregrine Falcon flew westwards towards me. It disappeared out of site presumably to have perched east of the cave ledge. However, it passed beside me over Tilly Whim ledge then to be seen no further. In total three Shags rode the rolling swell off Tilly Whim and the gully. Whilst there were two blow holes active at the gully mouth, however, the crashing waves and resultant spray was more impressive today. Much sea froth danced at the base of the cliff.
Whilst ascending the gully through the grassy ravine I found myself caught in a hail shower. The wail of the wind through the overhead wires only added to wild nature of the conditions. It was difficult to see much other than the smaller than petit pois size balls of ice accumulating upon the ground. Back at the centre there were to be found tiny drifts and hail floating upon on puddles. However, I had to scramble up the gully rock face first, getting soggy gloves on the way. Perhaps not the best conditions for this morning’s Park to Pier Walk?