Did the pair of Goldfinches in the wildlife garden become part of the charm (a dozen) in Saxon’s coastward hedgerow? Despite the lack of sunlight there were insects upon the wing. A trio of Carrion Crows left the Small Copse as I passed. A Rabbit weaved between anthills, sat upon one then left the grassland for cover.
Amongst Horseshoe Vetch flowers and seed pods, the latter nearly as the insect, was an Ichneumon Wasp. Its black abdomen had a junction so that it was higher than the rest of its body. I saw yellow legs, which might be wrong, making it difficult to identify. A few Meadow Grasshoppers lived up to their names! A handful of Marbled Whites were on the wing, one sat and opened its wings on a flowerless ground hugging gorse growth. Both Gatekeepers and Meadow Browns were seen. I admired a few ripe Blackberries whilst a Bumble Bee visited its flowers. Sloes locked purple and likewise Haws had started to turn red.
Both Quaking Oat Grass and Yellow Rattle held seed packages, whilst Wild Parsnip had more flowers to come, flowers fading and seeds on display. Common Toadflax was losing its display. Red Bartsia, Wild Thyme, Dwarf Thistle, Field Scabious and the flowerless stems of Yellowwort decorated the former quarried landscape. A Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle crawled upon the ground below.
An unseen Green Woodpecker called, and a hidden Jay squawked from gully tree cover. Only thanks to binoculars did I see a pair of Roe Deer, with shiny dark noses, grazing the edge of the coastal slopes. Luckily the Stonechat I had heard was seen nearby. Brief snippets of Song Thrush broadcasts came from the gully whilst on the rock face there was evidence of said bird’s anvils, in the forms of broken snail shells.
Herring Gulls and Sandwich Terns calls were heard coastwards of the Lighthouse. Hamish confirmed seeing one of latter in Durlston Bay and reported a Siskin too. Both a high flight Gannet and sea skimming Shag flew east. Golden Samphire was the coastal flower see from the distance.
Today is the start of National Whale & Dolphin Watch Week so keep your eyes open over the ocean. For more information visit: https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw/
Calling from the top of the upper Mill Marker a Raven called then flew inland. Near the centre a pair of Ravens flew to tree cover beside the goat plot. One called as the other carried food in its beak.