The rain had revitalised the plants making them appear greener and fresher. However, the white petals of a Wild Rose had been flattened in contrast to their solid firm seed pods full of hairy itchy seeds. Raindrops looked frozen in time waiting to drip from branch tips or leaves. Spindle also presented its characteristic four segmented fruits. Holm Oak held petit pois size acorns and seeds were contained in the masts dangling from Sycamore and Ash. Round the head Thistledown at the foot of a parent plant sat to recolonise at its source.
Mares-tail fronds / needles at the castle, thanks to rain drops, resembled a 1970s fibre optic lamp. Similarly, the needles of Tamarisk were great enhance by the moisture. A Hoverfly flew seeking out flowers. It would have found Sea Aster just over the cliff top drystone wall and a good carpet of Rock Samphire between Globe and Observation point. However, a hammock like drystone wall clinging spiders web was more obvious to prey due to the rain drops it held. Hemp Agrimony stood tall and held flowers beside the coast path whilst most Teasel heads had gone bald!
Off Durlston Head I believe I heard the call of a passing Tern. Off the Globe a Peregrine falcon called in flight above the cliff tops. Soon in perched upon the “penthouse” cliff face perch new the cave ledge. Below it one Shag clung to the cliff face whilst further down another three stood on a ledge near the sea. Two of these had heads curled into their shoulders in rest. Looking east another sea ledge had another Shag trio. Only one of these stretched out its wings to dry.
On Tilly Whim Ledge one adult Great Black Backed Gull perched with a duo of juveniles alongside. The later were later together upon the sea. The wave cut platform had Golden Samphire sprouting out between its crevices and amongst the fallen boulders. Whilst watching a pair cliff top Rock Doves take off, I had the shock of a rapid face level fly past of half a dozen determined Racing Pigeons.
One Magpie and a pair of Carrion Crows were upon the downland slopes. An unseen Stonechat was heard whilst Blackbirds flew between bushes. Was that a Kestrel perched upon the overhead wires beside the Lighthouse? Half a dozen Herring Gulls flew over the gully emitting their calls.
It was a surprise seeing a Gatekeeper amongst the wet grass on the cliff top. Later three Meadow Browns flew over the downland. The downland had ground hugging Dwarf Thistle flowers and some short-stemmed Scabious too. Another Wild Rose held two fresh a fluffy Pin Cushion Galls which acted as isolation chambers for gall wasp larvae.