Another morning of a suction and squelch walk through the puddles upon the clay. As it was misty, I only heard Herford Cattle, Blackbird and Robin calls. A two-metre tail of Bramble rose out of a scrub clump and wagged in the breeze. Silhouettes of five Carrion Crows rose above South Field rather like shadow puppets. Small Copse and the hedgerows were still visible despite the mist. I reflected that at one time this would have been weather for the Anvil Point fog horn! Upon the meadow a dismembered sponge dog ball looked like scrambled eggs.
West of the small copse I felt the strong breeze and counted sixteen Winter Heliotrope flower stems. Upon the Wares one Carrion Crow perched upon and electric fencepost. A Rabbit ran several hundred meters taking a route under the electric fence line before its white rump disappeared into scrub cover. The unmistakable shape of a Kestrel rose up from a cluster of Elder, Blackthorn and Hawthorn. Upon a dead log, which had escaped from the bonfire site, a smothering of yellow Witches Butter fungi was anchored.
A Woodpigeon flew seaward past the mile markers, from where I could see the silent Lighthouse without an active lamp. One of the Herford cattle was visible, this being below the Lighthouse rock exposure.
Many small white wavelets were off shore. A score of Racing Pigeon mimicked Rock Doves in perching on the cliff edge. I manage to sneak a view to see Guillemots in their cave and flying out. Both Herring Gulls and Greater Black Backed Gulls headed west along the coastline. When up close to the contractor’s barrier fencing, I heard the wind whistle and wail as it passed through.
Beside the diagonal path Jackdaws were briefly seen and heard. A gentle trickle of what looked like “milky tea” ran out of the woods down the path. At the castle a few Daffodil flowers kissed the stone flags. Within the grounds Rosemary showed flowers. Only the white foam at the edge of Durlston Bay could be seen through the mist. Blue Tits and Great Tits were of course heard in the dell. In the Sycamore beside the castle car park a pair of Magpies cackled like witches! A Jay flew up from Long Meadow to disappear into the hedgerow.