I begin my morning patrol in the Reservoir Copse where the dry stone walling volunteers have taken on dismantling a forgotten stretch of wall; the collapsed wall buried under decades of leaf mulch and exposed rocks clad with Moss.
Just past the wall I notice a slight movement amongst the Ivy, and soon after, a little pointed snout reveals itself to be a Shrew. No more than a few inches long the little creature shuffles it’s way through the undergrowth until disappearing out of sight.
I head down over the Lighthouse Field following a Common Blue butterfly dance above the remaining flowers which haven’t gone to seed – Field Scabious, Greater Knapweed, and Rough Hawkbit. I also enjoyed spotting a patch of Common Toadflax.
Just yesterday I took this same descent past the Mile Markers to cool off after work with a dip at Tilly whim, only to see Bottlenose Dolphin leaping off out at sea, and a Roe Deer grazing between the pockets of Gorse.
Sea Aster lines my route at the bottom of the Gully, before I ascend the other side to see Anvil Point Lighthouse getting a fresh lick of paint. You can still spot our final orchid of year – Autumn Ladies Tresses along the side of the road at the Lighthouse Green.
The bird-ringers reported a very busy morning have caught over 50 Blackcap, 5 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Redstart, 9 different species of Warbler, including Garden Warbler and Whitethroat.
Katie also appeared busy deciphering what moth species ended up in last night’s moth trap; which also included many Harlequin Ladybirds, Red-legged Shieldbugs and a Necrodes beetle. Dwarfing all the other moths, the Convolvulus Hawkmoth offered immediate distraction, with an impressive 4” wingspan. Two Buff-tip caterpillars also came marching across the path to have a look!