About the car park verges, which twinkled with dew, scampered Squirrels. A pair of Dunnocks investigated the kerb stones. Whilst a female House Sparrow fluttered about near the recycling bins, a male perched on the corner of the Centre. Later a female House Sparrow perched upon a camera nest box outside the office window. It would be interesting to have a nest camera on something other than Tits for a change. The sound of waves in Durlston Bay and the sound of a loud, low, Ship’s foghorn drew me to the coast. There was no sea mist nor fog and two cruise ships were clearly seen from Rest & Admire.
Around the timeline a Chiff Chaff called, but just before, I had to avoid being tickled on the head by a Goat Willow branch that had drooped towards the coast path. A Goldfinch appeared at the observation point, whilst below a raft consisted of seven Razorbills and seventeen Guillemots. Eventually a trio of Fulmar were seen, one focused on low flight over the sea. Above the Gully Mouth the sound of a gentle swell tickling the cliff face was amplified.
A Gannet flew east offshore whilst a noisy Oystercatcher headed west. Even a Skylark appeared near the gully mouth. This mornings litter was inside the Dolphin Hut and near the Tilly Whim no entry sign.
Sea Campion showed white flowers at the foot of the Lighthouse complex perimeter wall. Bluebells were in flower, seaward of the Lighthouse and later amongst Winter Heliotrope leaves at the southwards spread of the Small Copse.
Back on Lighthouse Green there were fresh leaf blades of Wild Gladioli. I observed a trio of runners that became walkers as the ascended up to the coastal ridge. They had not noticed the 2cm tall Early Spider Orchids flowers that their feet had passed. Down on my knees I spotted six such flowers within a few metres of each other. Perhaps after yesterday’s evening rain (1.8) they might grow a little taller.
Before Lighthouse Rd bridge I had to take a closer look, to reveal that fresh Honeysuckle leaves had spiralled around a flowering branch of Blackthorn. A few lower branch buds of the bridge Pear Tree were showing signs of opening. Near the small Copse there were several clumps of Cowslips in flower. I was fascinated by the twisting and spiralling Chive-like growth of Chervil. Near Small Copse a Sycamore seedling displayed a pair of narrow “seed leaves” below a usual pair of recognisable leaves. Nearby sun glistened off Ant Hill dew drops. A pleasant morning in all!