I told them...... I said it was more dangerous to fence off the rifle range so that the path was forced along the foot of the cliffs. And look what happened:
The MoD risk assessment obviously got it wrong, and there could be birders or dogwalkers under there.Or indeed James Bond and his girl Holly Goodhead, who in Moonraker are sunbathing at the foot of Kingsdown cliffs (no, honestly!) but the evil Dr Drax sets off a cliff fall from which 007 emerges miraculously unscathed.
A likely consequence of this fall could be the total closure of the area which would be good for wildlife but a shame for me. At the moment the path is taped off, a precaution which seems to be being universally ignored.
In other news:
A young female stonechat was seen on the range.
The highlight of a trip to Oare was the huge flock of Brent geese (estimated at 1300 birds):
On the botanical front, butcher's broom is blooming....
...... sweet violets are perfuming!....
..... and this stork's-bill could be sticky or sea - any experts out there?
Getting down to ground level, a pleasant stroll around Park Wood failed to find lesser peckers, but while idly picking off bark from fallen branches a whole new ecosytem was uncovered.....
millipedes
centipedes
pillipedes
round-mouthed snails Pomatia elegans
...and a glow-worm larva, the first record of the species in this wood, apparently.They're all lovely in their own little way.
2 comments:
Looks like spring is arriving in your neck of the woods too. Birds are starting to sing and I saw the first of the season Rufous Hummingbird today (I have to gloat). I look forward to all your flower posts.
Steve ,
Re. your Storksbill .
My book would indicate Common/Sticky as it flowers earlier than Sea and the latter usually has solitary flowers and your shot shows multi .
Well done with the Glow-worm larvae .
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