I started my walk today on the furthest north west point of the Country Park, entering next to the old Swanage landfill site. In the last few years Durlston has been managing this site for conservation purposes, regenerating it back to Downland, a management plan has been carried out on this area and so far, it is going very well. 2020 saw the world change from Coronavirus, with an influx of ‘staycationers’ visiting the South coast and in particular our beautiful seaside town of Swanage. This has created an overflowing amount of rubbish and waste being produced, so the proposed decision is to re-activate the old landfill site. Watch this space for a smouldering pile of BBQ waste and blue plastic face masks!!
Carrying on my walk Jackdaws were rummaging around a recently uncovered piece of land finding pieces of nesting material. A Linnet flew over as a Dunnock sang from the top of a bendy piece of Willow, now showing beautiful bright white buds. As I looked over the Quarry field, I spotted the antlers of two Sika Deer, almost camouflaged against the thick scrub patches.
A Chaffinch sang from the top of another Willow tree and a Wren flew low to the footpath. A Greenfinch sang from a tall piece of Gorse and a Buff-tailed Bumble Bee zoomed past. At the end of this footpath a couple of lovely patches of Primroses shone in the morning sun.
In field 1 Skylarks sang from above, Blackcaps were in the hedgerow and the next field over three Roe Deer lay peacefully in the lush grass. Today marks the beginning of the annual Butterfly Transect, with the weather forecast at it’s best today we will be out searching for these colourful beauties later.
Down at Lighthouse Road bridge, a Great-tit, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Dunnock and Long-tailed Tits were all seen. Walking back up the tarmac track, the sound and then sight of a Green-Woodpecker was a lovely end, it’s bright red head in full view. Further up Blue-tits sung out from Hawthorn tree and another Greenfinch called from the top of a Sycamore tree.