Initially a Jay flew into the tree tops as I arrived. Soon it was on the road verge at the foot of Elm trees. Later one was seen about Long Meadow, perhaps it was retrieving supplies from a stash of Holm Oak acorns? A Green Woodpecker took to undulating flight over the overflow car park. Another swooped down from either a Sycamore or Ash amongst the hedgerow. Only one was later seen foraging amongst the meadow sward. When in the woods I heard the calls of two Green Woodpeckers!
Great Tits were amongst the lichen clad Blackthorn. A Dunnock appeared beside the Tabersham bench and spent much time on the tarmac path. Up above it was a male Bullfinch in the branches of an Oak. Whilst I heard a few Long-Tailed Tits it was only one that I saw. From another Oak, that still held a few dry leaves, a Chaffinch called out. Further down the path the later possibly the same bird with its partner.
Rain droplets were held upon the twigs of Dog Wood and the barbs of Bramble. Upon another Bramble bush the empty “cups” were all that were left of a former Blackberry fruit display. Amongst the roadside hedgerow a leggy stem of Gorse, with flowers, stood taller than I. However, I believe a Hawthorn provided valuable support.
On Solent Road house verge had a splendid show of flowering Hairy Violets. Walking back up the back track that is Durlston Road the flowered upon our neighbours’ verges included Snow Drops, a Snowbell, Greater Periwinkle (in White & Blue). The parks verge showed only thirty Winter Heliotrope stems in flower despite a vast carpet of kidney shaped leaves. At the edge of an unauthorised garden waste pile on park land there just survived a clump of flowering Wood Forget Me Not (thanks to D. Leadbeater for this one).
On the woodland wood chip path a trio of Grey Squirrels scampered ahead on the ground. They escaped up tree stems on my approach. A few Snowberry fruits clung onto otherwise dry lifeless stems. Olive like fruits clung to what I thought were a Laurel, but its serrated leaves suggested otherwise. Four clusters of white Viburnum flowers gave additional colour. I had my first chance to admire some layered Hazel. Thicker stems stretched out from a coppice stool and had been laid and pegged into the soils to create new roots and an additional Hazel stool. Thanks to Con!