The dramatic sky a main feature of the early morning, with a deep purply blue across the Isle of Wight and Bournemouth, with a shard of pale blue sky below separating it from the sea.
To the west the waves were rolling in, first time for quite a while I’ve been able to enjoy the sound of the rumbling as they hit the Portland limestone headlands. Two huge cruise ships bobbed off St Aldhelm’s, looking as though they were waiting for the storm to abate.
Along the coast path Stonechats the most common bird, with at least eight spotted as they perched atop the Gorse and Blackthorn, their orange fronts moving up and down as they bobbed on the branch.
At this time of year a great variety of markings can be seen with Stonechats, as the males, females and juveniles mix are all about.
Moving within the Bramble Blackcaps, the greyish colouration catching my eye, before fixing on the black or brown cap.
After the slight rain last night, the molluscs are making the most of the damp ground. Along the clifftop on the bare ground hundreds of tiny shells can be seen including the Spire Snail Cochlicella acuta, whose tall spire of a shell wobbles and waves in the air as they move, always look a bit comic to me!
Overhead Swallows swooping and swirling, and as they passed the sound of them chatting and calling could be herd. In amongst them a few House Martins, easily distinguished as they banked by the white rump.
Crawling across the turf a long furry Fox Moth caterpillar, while the moth trap last night produced only a small selection, but did include the Four Spotted Footman, some beautifully marked Feathered Brindle and one of my favourites the L-album Wainscot.
Amongst the browning grass a scattering of wildflowers with Wild Carrot and Yarrow providing white flowerheads, with purple smattering from Greater Knapweed and Field Scabious.