A strong westerly wind whipping the sea into white crests, the blue sky reflecting to give a glorious colourscape. Skimming above the dappled white and blue water a group of Gannets, gliding gloriously. The white wings of the adult tipped with black, while the youngsters covered in their dark brown plumage.
While admiring these, flickering in and out of view a few Manx Shearwater, dots of black and white.
Also a Fulmar, heading into the wind, but not seeming to progress, I was able to watch both the Fulmar and a Shag through binoculars for quite a few seconds without any of us moving! A great way of comparing the flight patterns of these two birds, one or two a short powerful flaps followed by a long glide, the other constant steady beating of the wings.
The loud cry of a Peregrine Falcon alerted my to the presence of this bird of prey as it sped just along the top of the cliffs near Tilly Whim, while another juvenile was hunched up on an outcrop near the Globe.
The piping calling of three Rock Pipits as they strutted and flitted between the cappers of the dry-stone wall pulled my attention.
In the shelter, the Durlston Bay side of the headland, a Chiffchaff was moving around the branches of a Sycamore, this bird with a tiny silver ring on its leg showing it had been recorded as part of the scientific monitoring programme.
Along the path a number of Wayfaring Trees, the thick leaves topped with clumps of bright red berries, whilst the Old Man’s Beard is covered in delicate pale yellow flowers.
Patches of Red Valerian – the flowers varying from pale pink to a deep red – adding more vibrancy, upon which a Marbled White butterfly landed providing a lovely picture - not captured on camera as the butterfly was promptly whisked away by a gust of wind.
The Dell looking very flowery at present as the purples of Buddleia compete with the dull pink of Hemp Agrimony, the vibrant pink of Fuchsia, and the more subtle flowers of Hydrangea, while scattered amongst the yellow of Ragwort.