Pouring rain greeted the start of my early patrol, so instead of looking for birds I took some time to admire the wildflowers!
On the downland Early Spider Orchids are scattered, a sprinkling of brown furry bodies, with green leaves surrounding. As I peered ahead to the summit of a small quarr, 24 of these small plants were showing. A privilege to be able to see these rarities.
From the top of the hill the differences in the Cowslip population of the meadows can be seen, Johnston meadow almost completely covered in these fantastic yellow flowers, while Centenary has them mostly covering the top half, while Ox-eye field has few to show (at least from that distance). It is fascinating to see how the fields change over the years.
As the rain turned to drizzle a Skylark started to sing, just bursts of beautiful song, before it returned to hide amongst the rough grasses.
Taking its place, the slightly squeaky, weak song of a Dunnock, which was spotted perching on the top of a blossom covered Blackthorn.
Moving through the rambling ropes of the Old Man’s Beard was a Chiffchaff, the slender body and pale mark above the eye easily seen, but it is the call that makes it unmistakable, as it goes chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff-chiff-chaff-chiff, then repeats.
Down one of the banks a patch of bright blue Green Alkanet, with nearby the low growing Ground Ivy, while growing alongside some Lesser Celandines, all of which were tightly closed against the rain.
On the cliffs Guillemots galore, their growling can be heard from above, as they jostle for position on the breeding ledge – come and see their live images on the screen in Durlston Castle visitor centre.
Lots of leaves of the Lords and Ladies appearing along the verges and the woods, along with leaves of Ramsons and Three-cornered Leeks.