Durlston Castle looked quite imposing this morning with the sea mist blowing overhead. Two Great Tits could be heard chatting to one another in the Dell, as I got my legs tangled in a Spider’s silk; streaming from a nearby wall overflowing with Horsetails and straggly Stinging Nettles.
Red Valerian adds a splash of colour to the hedge dominated by Buddleia, who’s large dropping florets have now faded to brown as they set to seed. Further down the path, Hemp Agrimony, Ragwort, and Willowherb provide a late-season source of nectar, alongside the spider-like flowers of Old Man’s Beard which have just come into bloom.
A Grey Squirrel rustles it’s way up a nearby Ash Tree and breathes a sneeze-like grunt disturbing two Woodpigeons from their roost.
The ferny fronds of Tamarisk around Durlston Head have grown to great heights – blocking view of the sea and creating a slightly unnerving feeling from hearing the sound of water out of sight below. Waves can be heard rebounding from the cliffs and sploshing chaotically back into the swell.
Today a Great Black-backed Gull occupies the Peregrine’s usual perch. This rocky outcrop juts out from the cliffs and commands views from east to west along this section of the coast. With a wingspan almost wide as I am tall, this is the largest species of Gull in the world – probably no match for a wee little Peregrine!
A great mist smothers the downs at Anvil Point as it blows from a south-westerly direction. Somewhere amongst a patch of Gorse, both a Robin and Stonechat can be heard tweeting merrily away, sheltered from the prevailing wind.