This morning I walked in from Langton and assisted a lady on Durnford Drive with a Common Shrew. The long-nosed insectivore was running fast in small circles upon the dusty track. It was relocated to the grassy verge where at least it might escape predators. About Spyway some fields had already been cut and harvested. Elsewhere, Ragwort was ready for pulling but fortunately this was not Durlston! I passed patches of Vipers-Burgloss which I have not seen at Durlston for a while.
At Durlston I found that bristly, firm Blackberries had developed. I saw both pink and white flowers on Bramble. A few Yellow Wort flowers still out on the coastal ridge. Upon the sea were a handful of sailing boats, and a few Herring Gulls and Greater Black Backed Gulls just off the cliffs. Rabbits were seen running close to scrub cover upon the coastal downland slopes. A pair of Swifts flew up from the coast whilst near ground level I found some six, hairy Pin Cushion Galls upon a Wild Rose.
The Hereford Cattle were grazing amongst ant hills, Bracken, and scrub. There were plenty of patches of green sward for them still. Grazing of the coastal slope meant that patches of Stinking Iris, Thistle, Bramble & Gorse were exposed. Today, one pair of Six Spot Burnet Moths were mating upon one of there species cocoons. Side by side stand tall were two Greater Mullein spikes with flowers yet to open. Upon entering un-grazed field 10 grassland was able to tickle my elbow. I happily heard then saw a Yellow Hammer in 6a and was to latter hear another by the Horseshoe Bridge. Greenfinch and Pheasant were heard the mechanical clattering of caterpillar tracks on a quarry bulldozer.
I made a circuit about the Lighthouse and saw: a Garden Snail upon a wall in shade; Sea Campion flowers about the southwest corner; dried Bluebell stems with seed pod. A male Stonechat perched upon the overhead electric wires. A dozen cackling Jackdaws flew up the gully some of which perched upon the telephone wires. Underneath I found a patch of Harebell flowers which are a preferred nectar source for a butterfly we cannot remember!