I met Annabel (one of our residential volunteers) and headed to the coastal woodland to receive a walling stone delivery. The Laurel beside the approach Road held small pale-yellow flowers. A Woodpigeon cooed from the cover of Reservoir Copse. The wind tickled the leaves and moved the branches of a Cherry tree, whilst a pair of Wrens explored the ground level. Dried Rose hips dangled from a prickly tentacle like growth whilst Elder was developing its fruit. Annabel remarked at the strange sounds a Squirrel made near Solent House. We counted eight Common Broomrape stems near a Hawthorn whilst an Evening Primrose stem held closed. The plant buds were made of three segments each designed to split when the flower opens.
After signing for the stone delivery, Annabel spotted initially one, then three Long-tailed Tits amongst a Sycamore stretching over the coast path. We felt the rough sandpaper like leaves of a young Elm. Although the wind only lightly rippled the surface of Durlston Bay we were soothed by sound of waves meeting the rocky shore. We could just see the Urban coast whilst a sea haze hid the Isle of Wight. Dazzling sun beams were reflected off the sea surface.
Before entering Smithfield we spotted a tattered winged Ringlet pause amongst Old Man’s Beard flowers. A Raven, which we had heard was perched on top of a Cypress at the park boundary. Carrion Crows echoed the Raven’s call as they flew off. A Swallow hawked low over the meadow where insects such as the Meadow Browns and Gatekeepers we saw were its intended prey.
As we looked to the distant old landfill site, I mentioned that as being one of the 2 spots where we tend to sew Buzzards. To our surprise a Buzzard shortly arrived a passed over the Large Copse. Annabel shared the fact that at home she daily sees a Red Kite over here home! We found what were Cauliflower Galls upon Ash tree buds. I learnt that these forms were the trees response to tiny spider like mites. We saw a red / brown keeled Slug with and opaque protrusion at its rear end. Reliably a Speckled Wood appeared beside the Small Copse. A Blue Dragonfly passed over the grassland well away from the pond.