Spring sounds galore as I took a patrol across Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve.
From above the farmland meadows came the almost constant stream of Skylarks singing, a beautiful melodic fluty song pouring down from the sky. Despite the blue sky, the dark dots of the birds were difficult to spot.
From the patch of Blackthorn scrub, the blossom of which has just started to open up, was a Chaffinch, the ‘quick-quick-slow’ calling catching my attention, as did the chiff-chaff call of a Chiffchaff, this warbler eventually tracked down to the nearby Ash tree.
Along the bottom of the hedgerow some delicate lemon yellow Primroses catching the early sunshine, while the large bright green leaves of Lord and Ladies showing very obviously.
The meadows are speckled with yellows from the early Cowslips, many more still to come, while on the downs the sprinkling of white flowers from the Common Whitlow Grass and Daisy flowers. On closer inspection a few Hairy Violets popped into my view as did a few yellow tufts of Sedge.
Two Roe Deer were standing at the edge of the bright yellow flower covered Gorse, while amongst the prickly spikes Dunnock and Stonechat both sung loudly.
Meadow Pipits flitted about the downland, while by the cliff edge two Rock Pipits were chasing each other, one shoulders raised making it look larger than usual.
A couple of Siskin and a Pied Wagtail flew overhead as I searched in vain for an adder, however on the water Guillemots and Razorbills galore.
Despite all of this my highlight was a fantastic furry Bee-fly, which was basking on the stone, allowing me a great view of its triangular shape and long nose.