With the fog swirling around the cliffs and hilltops this morning, I was drawn to the coast – well who isn’t?
Flapping low above the water was a Shag, soon followed by a second, then a third and fourth, taking over the cliffs again now the Auks (Guillemots and Razorbill have left)!
As one of these Shags landed on a sea-washed outcrop, the yellow beak and greenish tinge to the feathers was easy to spot.
Soaring at my eye height was a Great-black Backed Gull, while flock of Jackdaws tumbled over the cliff top, as they did my eyes were drawn to the stand of Teasels. These plants standing tall with the small purple flowers in a delicate ring midway up (or down) the head. Below them the remains of the Thrift, lots of small beige seed heads, looking a little like balls on a stick.
Spikes of yellow Agrimony, the purple of Black Knapweed and the greens of Wood Sage provide more to enjoy and feeding stations for a wide variety of invertebrates.
On the Rough Hawkbit the fantastic shape of a Thick-kneed Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) (also known as Swollen-thigh Flower Beetle), a reflective green even without the sun.
The orange Soldier Beetles and the red and black Six-spot Burnet Moths also in evidence alongside Small Skipper and Lulworth Skipper butterflies.
A Rock Pipit raised up with a whirr of wings, then floated down to land amongst the purple flowers of the Durlston Rock-Sea Lavender.
The glorious Woolly Thistle covered in sharp spikes and soft fur, topped with a purple flower. The unopened heads a glorious concentric cyclical rows of spikes (which call me to feel them even though they are all spiky). Taking nectar and pollen from them a Red-tailed Bumble bee.
Peacock and Red Admiral butterflies flitting around the Buddleia and Hemp Agrimony flowers, while the last of the Mock Orange flowers are dropping.