Arriving at Durlston it is misty. As I change to work boots, I spot the Pyramidal Orchids, a Robin on top of a sign chirping away. I can hear what sounds to be gunfire – either the Tank Museum practicing for the Tank Festival or noise from close’ish military bases – eerie sound coming along with the wind. My ears then pick up more comforting bird songs and sounds – a Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Crow, Blackcap, and a Dunnock. Spotted below me is a Bloody-nose Beetle, a fair size. A Wood Pigeon flies out of the Ash tree behind me, whilst further away I could hear a Wren towards the copse and Chiffchaff towards the meadows.
Walking past the Learning Centre, I spot 2x Magpies above the building seemingly fighting or playing with each other. Past the Learning Centre and into a small field the Bush-crickets and Grasshopper species can be heard amongst the tall grass. Tufted Vetch can be seen around the scrub of Brambles and Blackthorn, and Hogweed seen near another Ash before the gate into South Field.
In South Field, the usual Birds-foot Trefoil, Yellow Rattle, Buttercup species, Agrimony, Clovers, Wild Carrot, and more are spotted, although I noticed that most of the Common Spotted Orchids have either gone over or about to go – there are however a few in bloom to the right just before the Saxon gate (facing Saxon). In Saxon I decide to have a look in the Quarr (old Quarry) to see if I could spot any Bee Orchids, no such luck – have only seen 1 this year at Durlston and June is getting a wiggle on! What I did see is the usual Wild Thyme, Milkwort, Yellow-wort, Kidney Vetch, Horse-shoe Vetch, and a few Ox-eye Daisies, I also spotted a nice small flower called Common Century.
I Walk on deciding to go straight down to the clifftop trail – down here I notice the Guillemot cave is a lot less full than usual, the Guillemots are starting to fledge it seems – many Guillemots are seen on the sea, whilst 10x Razorbills were spotted slightly to the west of them. I also spotted the some Ravens, Herring Gulls were present, and 2x beautiful Fulmars stunningly flying above the Auks and beside the cliffs.