Quite glorious out on Durlston National Nature Reserve this morning, with the blue sky and fluffy white cloud a marked contrast to the last few days of grey.
A swooping group of Swallows headed around, chattering to each other as the flew, while higher still the huge black shape of a Raven soared across the sky.
Taking a stroll towards the Lighthouse the sound of small birds calling from amongst the bushes a feature. Almost as if they were teasing me, popping up for a second between the leaves then disappearing before I have time to adjust the binoculars.
However with a bit of patience I was able to get really good views of a male Blackcap as it moved through the twigs of lichen laden Hawthorn, the grey body with the head topped with a black cap. These look a bit bigger and longer than most of our other warblers.
A long rope of juicy red Black Bryony berries had strewn itself across the Blackthorn and Bramble, while moving in this bush a Chiffchaff. As it moved another and then another also emerged, with them perching helpfully on a branch to allow me to get a good view.
As I checked on the Hereford Cattle a small group of Meadow Pipits took to the air, before dropping again amongst the cow pats and tussocks of the Tor Grass.
By the water trough two Common Whitethroats were in the Blackthorn bushes, both facing out providing views of their white throat. Feeding up here before making the long journey south across the channel towards Africa.
A few butterflies to be found still, with a Red Admiral basking in the sunshine on a bright green Ivy leaf and a few Meadow Browns skipping along the edges of the field. As well as these, two Small Whites were on the remaining flowers of Sea Aster.
A few small pink flowers of Restharrow, and the spiralling white Autumn Ladies Tresses plus the pale blue of Small Scabious, on the downland.