What a glorious walk around the Durlston National Nature Reserve this morning. The meadows looking a picture as the wildflowers are rioting across them.
The yellows of Hay Rattle, Bulbous Buttercup, Bird’s-foot Trefoil and the now going to seed Cowslips, combining with the greens of the grasses. Intermingled with them, the lilac of Pale Flax gently wafting in the breeze, a scattering of dark purple Early Purple Orchids (having a last hurrah for the year) and the newly emerging paler Common Spotted Orchids.
Amongst the really short grass and bare earth, the bright blue of Chalk Milkwort combines with the brilliant yellow of Horseshoe Vetch, and sticking up between them the tiny bright purple of Early English Gentian.
As I was admiring these the sound of loud buzzing came from nearby, drawing my attention to a large patch of the potentially invasive Cotoneaster (I hadn’t spotted before despite it being the size of a car!). The small round red flowers now out and attracting over 100 bees, a variety of species including Buff-tailed Bumble Bee, Red-tailed Bumble Bee plus at least 3 others – I am attempting to identify!
Along the hedgerows the Elder flowers are out, large flat heads contrasting with the smaller white flowers of the May (Hawthorn).
Underneath, the Ground Ivy is growing tall, another of the pale purple flowers, alongside the pink of Herb Robert and the tiny white four petals of Stickyweed (or Goosegrass).
Overhead the ‘zizzing’ of a few Swallows, the wonderful melody of two Skylarks and the scratchy rattle of Common Whitethroats coming from the Blackthorn scrub.
The Sycamore trees are in full flower, the 5” long drooping head dangling from between the leaf stalks on the end of the twigs.
Elsewhere a patch of Bugle, the first flowers of Garlic Mustard and the blue of Green Alkanet.
Small Heath, Small Blue and Common Blue butterflies plus Speckled Wood and a Wall Brown all in flight in the early morning