7th June from the West Cliff Green, Bournemouth

A hazy sky which somehow blankets the heat upon the cliff top. Still a snappy little breeze of the beach although it is not cold. The waves are short and muscley with a strong undertow like little bulldogs excitedly pulling at the leash. New flowers appear every day. Ox-Eye daisies and Foxgloves today. The grasses grow longer and stronger. Ragwort down has clumped into pillows around the whole plant as there is no breeze in their sheltered corner to blow them away. The short grass areas are littered with oily, reddening bodies. Pigeons coo.

From 7th June 2022

The sky has been high and grey all day. But with a powerful diffuse glare that strains the eyes. The air is muggy. But later a bullying breeze springs up and the green sea begins to ferment and crumple into waves that make a loud agitated hiss. Purple Toadflax is spiking upwards in the shadier places. Bees of all types are going mad for the pink edged blacberry flowers. A white tailed bumble bee seems to be doing handstands on the top of the wooden handrail. Other bees are doing the same. On closer inspection it may be that they are carving off tiny piese of wood, presumably for nest building. The goats do what they seem to do best which is to eat bushes. It's astonishing how they scramble about the cliffs and force their way through dense bushes without tangling their long curving horns. By evening, the grey has got thicker and the wind colder. #bournemouth #westcliffgreen #summer #June

From 7th June 2012

A storm cock on the highest branch of a tall cypress singing his heart out into the teeth of the gale; shouting his delight and defiance at the worst the weather can throw at him.