Starting out early across the meadows I was captivated by the sight of two iridescent green Thick-kneed Flower Beetles as they both stood on the small white flowers of the Wild Carrot, between them the tiny deep red central marking of this umbellifer could be seen. The two beetles were glistening in the sunlight, the thick bulbous legs showing wonderfully!
A Yellowhammer was perched on a patch of Bramble, the brilliant yellow head flashing as it turned, while Stonechats were chatting loudly, the black-headed males with thick white collars alongside a number of female and youngsters. Above a Skylark was again in full voice, while Common Whitethroats were scratchily singing from the Elder and a Greenfinch was ‘seeping’ from its perch in the Hawthorn.
Great views during yesterday’s West Butterfly Transect of two Peregrine Falcons, a newly fledged youngster was perched on the dry-stone wall, the pale blue beak obvious as it moved its head, as when in flight was the pale band on its tail. This and another took flight producing a short display before disappearing over the hill.
Despite the wind 12 different species of butterfly counted including the Purbeck speciality the Lulworth Skipper, plus Small Skippers and Large Skippers. Only two types of blue – the Common and the Small, while by far the most numerous was the Marbled White, their black and white flutterings catching the eye. It was also great to see the velvety chocolate brown Ringlet, plus a freshly emerged Gatekeeper, a Grayling and Dark-Green Fritillary (although not quite on the transect).
Some of the meadow flowers are just getting past their best, but others are still gorgeous. Hop Trefoil, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Black Medic all smallish-yellowish vetches alongside other family members of Red and White Clover and the purple Tufted Vetch. Corky-fruited Water Dropwort, Meadow Buttercup, Ox-eye Daisy.
A few patches of blue Pale Flax waving gently in the breeze, while the smaller and white Fairy Flax is low growing.
Soaring over Durlston Bay was a Sparrowhawk.