In the wildlife garden well stock bird feeders were being used. At one point a quartet of Blue Tits were upon one feeder and a quartet of Goldfinches upon the other. A House Sparrow in Elder was larger than the Blue Tit nearby. In a stretch of blue sky between the cloud an aircraft carved a vapour trail.
Ballard Down was visible from Skipworth Meadow and Green Woodpecker was heard calling. The Tawny Owl nest box in the Large Copse was stuffed with a bed of leaves just visible at its entrance. Dry stems of Fleabane stood in the Paddock. In a linear meadow near Durlston Dairy Barn Cottage a pair of Roe Deer sat contently. Inevitably we set up Blackbirds as we ventured between the scrub of South Field. Robin spotted a Song Thrush which disappeared into cover. A Cockerel crow was heard from neighbouring land.
Upon the Upper Gully quarried slope Ox Eye Daisy, Field Scabious, Knapweed and Yarrow all bloomed. Of course, there were sightings of Magpies and the heard squawk of a Jay. A Robin tutted just before a group of Jackdaws passed chuckling overhead. A charm of a dozen Goldfinches left the gully scrub for the coastal slopes. Robin spotted suspected Redwings amongst thorny branches. Our treat was seeing a Sparrowhawk rise from the gully scrub, fly over the downland then turn 360 degrees to return into the scrub weaving between bushes. Haws, Rosehips and Sloes were available still as a food source for birds. Beside Lighthouse Road Bridge Black Bryony berries added to the winter harvest.
Unfortunately, the gate on the bridge was left open. Adjustments will be made an another “Please Shut the Gate Sign” to be added. Fortunately, there were no signs of Herford cattle upon Lighthouse Green, however, they were difficult to count in the gully landscape. We heard the wing beats of fast high-flying Pigeons racing overhead going inland. Jackdaws were active over the Gully occasionally scattered by the interference from Carrion Crows