A lovely fresh feeling morning after yesterdays mist and strong winds, the sky and sea now a gorgeous blue!
The sun was twinkling over the water in Durlston Bay as a Shag skimmed low above the water, another swam low on the water, only its neck and head seen above the slight swell. On the landslips the russet fur of a Fox was spotted as it picked its way across the tumbled rocks and bushes.
A flurry of Meadow Brown butterflies as they rose from amongst the grass, their wings a range of brown colours, but each having a spot on the upper wing.
A Red Admiral was warming itself as it basked on the purple flowers of the Buddleia, as a Large White floated by, landing on a Red Valerian, while Gatekeepers were also flitting around.
As I looked a Hummingbird Hawkmoth arrived, the whirr of wings and short stocky pink striped body, an amazing sight to see how it can insert its long proboscis into the individual flowers with such accuracy.
My highlight however was a sudden splash of brilliant blue on the short downland turf, and a superb freshly emerged Adonis Blue was before me. The turquoise wings catching the sunlight as it flew a few yards before landing again, appearing like a jewel in the grass!
Peering down a variety of flowers were spotted including some Eyebright, Squinancywort and Wild Thyme all low to the ground, as well as the slightly taller Burnet Saxifrage.
From behind me came the loud call of a Peregrine Falcon, as I turned it was speeding across the sky, then disappeared with a jink below the cliff face.
Above the gully a Kestrel was hovering, while a Sparrowhawk was seen hugging the hedge line as I walked back up the hill.
The two yellows of Common Toadflax spotted alongside the tall yellow of Wild Parsnip.