When things are whirling around in your head there is nothing better than some nature therapy, and what better place to have a lovely nature walk then Durlston Country Park. What a beautiful sunset it was last night, today is going to be another hot one with a temperature of 25 degrees and a light northerly breeze.
Across the freshly cut meadows new growth of Clover, Dandelion, Plantain, Bristle Ox Tongue, Wild Carrot, Birds-foot Trefoil and Wild Parsnip all appearing amongst the short grass. The sound of Crickets and Grasshoppers ring out from the left long grasses. Also, amongst the grass a couple of Crane flies.
The delicate song of a Wren was heard as it sat on the wind-blown Hawthorn tree Crataegus monogyna, while it’s noise neighbours a Robin and a Blackbird were loud and prominent sitting within a Blackthorn tree Prunus spinosa.
The first half of my walk was very quiet on the bird front, it felt like a game of hide and seek, then as I walked a narrow footpath, ahead a single Blackcap flew across the path, then two and another and another totalling about 15. I spent some time watching the scrub patches finding Sisken, Swallow, Blackcap, Great-tit and Blue-tit, then feeling I was being watched myself I turned to see 4 inquisitive Herefords watching me, watching the birds.
On the downs I saw Wheatear, and Rock Pipit scratching and moving around the barer earth patches. The sticky bulbous buds on the branches of the Horse Chestnut tree were a little perch for some Blue-tits.
Looking down on the upper gully a flurry of activity as Chiffchaffs were in abundance moving between the trees hidden from the northerly wind. The bird ringers had a busy morning with many Blackcaps and Chiffchaff, also ringing Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler.
Out on the coast a mass of Swallows and Martins and gathering the troops, they are fantastic to watch as they swoop and dive around the scrub, trees and along footpaths.