With bright blue skies and barely any wind, it was a gorgeous morning for a wander around Durlston.
Flitting and swooping along above the clifftops was a Swallow (my first of the year although a couple of others have already ben seen). The red and dark blue colours of this African migrant being reflected by the sunlight, while I was also able to admire the long tail.
On the water the Guillemots were to be seen bobbing, while in among them 21 Razorbills, while the ledges are again full of Guillemots as they prepare for egg laying in a couple of weeks.
From down near the water, a piping call, moved from Durlston Head to Tilly Whim, and here an Oystercatcher was spotted in flight, a super smart black and white bird with a long orange bill.
Suddenly my thoughts were disrupted by a scratchy calling, looking up towards the noise, and there was a Common Whitethroat (another first for me for 2026). This brown warbler perched on the top of the yellow flowered Gorse, its white throat showing as it faced me.
To add to the sounds, the rise and fall of the Rock Pipit and the melody of Meadow Pipit, plus the almost constant song of the Skylark from high above.
The first few pink Thrift flowers emerging along the cliffs, while the white Danish Scurvy Grass and Bladder Campion also now blooming.
On the downland one of two tiny blue flowers of Chalk Milkwort spotted in amongst the collection of Early Spider Orchids – a quick count of 68 made along the path edge. Elsewhere in the meadows a couple of Green-winged Orchids have just come out.
Whilst looking down at the short Orchids, an orange 7-Spot Ladybird wandered into view, and two Greater Bloody-nosed Beetles trundled by.