Off into the woods this morning, the sun causing the water in Durlston Bay to sparkle beautifully, silver and gold. Flapping low across this was a Shag, while on the water a flock of Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls.
The tall dull pink flowers of Hemp Agrimony attracted a couple of species of hoverfly, one of which was the magnificent Volucella Zonaria.
Near by the bright pink Greater Willowherb taking pride of place, the soft stems and leaves just asking to be felt, so too are the circular heads of the Woolly Thistle, a pattern of concentric spikes drawing me in – however these are very spiky thistles !!
Above me a Blue Tit was flitting through the leaves of the Elm, its tune sounding lower than usual. Amongst the Holm Oak a Great Tit hopped, this a youngster with a paler yellow chest and more pale black than the breeding adult.
The small white flowers of Enchanter’s Nightshade accompany a woodland walk, as does Herb Robert, Hedge Woundwort and Wood Dock.
Looking up at the sky, a bright blue between the variety of leaves. The shapes varying from the long and thin shape of an Ash, to the 3-lobes of Sycamore.
The large Beech looking lovely, but the Horse Chestnut has a few crinkled leaves.
The very loud blasting of a Wren heard as it hopped about the lower branches of the Macrocarpa.
Overlooking one of the more recent landslips, in flight a few butterflies, with Large White and Gatekeeper, plus a Meadow Brown.
Down at the Aviaries, the white and pink flowers of Hydrangea adding splashes of colour as is the deep pink of Fushcia.
In the meadow Marbled Whites were flitting around the Marjoram, while Red Bartsia lined the edge in places.