I started my walk today from the North East end of the Country Park firstly to admire the deep ridged trunk of the Macra Carpa, a magnificent tree and possibly the biggest on the park.
Durlston Bay was beautifully quiet as I wondered down towards the sea, only a gentle ripple of waves and the morning bird song ringing out from above. At the top of the landslip between Elm, Bramble, Ivy, Holm Oak, Honeysuckle and Buddleia were Chiffchaff, Stone Chat, Blue Tit, Robin, Blackcap and Willow Warbler.
The view across the Bay revealed Durlston Castle’s turrets, while flying and swooping in the air were Swallows and House Martins galore, displaying their brilliant aerobatic moves.
As I walked on a Grey Squirrel jumped silently between Sycamore branches, while on the other side of the path one clambered up a Sycamore tree, its sharp claws gripping to the bark making a scratchy noise as it went high into the tree canopy, its tail wailing behind it. Further on 2 more Squirrels were spiralling around a Holm Oak trunk up, then down, then up in a constant flurry of ‘cat and mouse’ until they paused, still, on opposite sides.
In the woodland, habitat piles of logs are being eaten and munched by many small insects, I lifted one up to peep underneath finding Common Woodlouse, Pill Millipede, Common Earwig and Common Earthworm.
The Tamarisk is looking brilliantly bushy at the moment although harbouring the view out to sea somewhat. Along the South West Coast Path a flutter of activity as Large White, Small White and Meadow Brown butterflies were all seen.
A Raven sat precariously on top of thin Sycamore branches, its black wax-like feathers and strong ridged beak glistening in the morning sun. On the mile markers two Ravens perched making a very loud cronking noise, then swooping off across the gully. A lovely morning walk as a ‘proper’ Ranger!