A warm sunny morning and the sound of grasshoppers filled the air, with Field Grasshoppers, Meadow Grasshoppers and Common Green Grasshoppers all identified. The whirring wings of what looked like a Bush-cricket in flight captured my attention, and on landing the very distinctive yellow half moons of the Roesel’s Bush-cricket could be seen - this insect only recently discovered here.
Perched for a moment on the stem of a Wild Carrot was a Common Blue Damselfly, a stunning brilliant blue.
From the Blackthorn scrub came the tinkling calling of two Goldfinches, as they flitted about they disturbed a couple of Common Whitethroats.
Perched atop a berry laden Hawthorn was a male Yellowhammer, the glorious yellow head spotted between the leaves as it recited its song ‘little-bit-o-bread-no-cheeeeeese’
A newly emerged Six-spot Burnet Moth was clinging to the grass stem, just an inch above the papery cocoon casing, the red spots vivid against its black-green wings.
Down on the cliffs our own, Durlston Rock-Sea Lavender is in flower, a delicate purple flower, found amongst the Rock Samphire, Golden Samphire and Sea Beet, which have thicker leaves to help with the salt resistance due to their cliff edge living.
The single Hollyhock, which grew last year for the first time, is now head high and looking splendid.
Down in the seabird colony, it is much quieter, on the water just 3 Razorbills and 3 Guillemots, while there are no Guillemots on the upper ledge, but a few still on the lower, the chicks here needing a few more days to have the best chance of surviving at sea.
A family of Shags was standing on a ledge, the two youngsters pale grey on the front while the adult was glowing dark green as the sun’s rays caught its feathers.
Perched on an outcrop was a juvenile Peregrine (blue beak visible), while another Peregrine was nearby, both gazing out to sea.