My first insect of the morning was a Bloody-nosed Beetle, whilst todays most prolific butterfly was the Marbled White, whilst Meadow Brown possibly Gatekeepers and a Speckled Wood put in appearances. A Hoverfly visited a Cow Parsley flower whilst Corky Fruited Water dropwort simply displayed its fly mimic lure. Plenty of tiny grass seeds dangled ready to attack those having hay fever. Luckily, I was medicated up!
Yellow Rattle showed few petals but many seed pods and Kidney vetch few petals but much seed “puff”. Gorse showed seed pods but no flowers, thus “kissing is out of fashion” at Durlston today! However, a spider had been happy to spin a web between gorse needles. Two flower spikes of Greater Mullein had the signs of yellow petals, these in a quarr hollow of the coastal ridge. Ragwort also had petals peeking out.
It was a treat to hear a Yellow Hammer call albeit without the “some cheese” ending. It was even better to see it near the coastal ridge. I also saw the Pheasant that had cock crowed in Lighthouse Field. Near the upper gully sleeper bridge, a Song Thrush anvil, was indicated by the Garden Snail shell remains.
Reluctantly I had to descend the coastal slop to recover a mislaid tool. Fortunately, I walked down in the shade of a dry-stone wall and saw the red handled fencing pliers upon a wall. However, this led to my walking amongst the cattle grazed area (6a seaward of the electric fence). Plenty of flowers stood out thanks to the grazing and included Wild Thyme, Yellow Wort, Self-Heal, Centaury. The Hereford Cattle were mostly sat ruminating.
A black dog with white neck band was running around without any owner. Other dog walkers reported having seen the dog chase a deer. As no calls of the owner were heard I suspect this will be a lesson leant the hard way. Just before taking the weather readings, I had an unidentified Dragonfly whizz past. Today’ maximum and dry temperatures were the highest this month (and year).