Around me the wonderful song of a Skylark, accompanied by the songs of Blackbird and Song Thrush, plus the near constant scratchy calling of Common Whitethroats – a superb way to begin an early patrol around Durlston.
Off out to check on the Hereford cows and calves, all of them lazing in the sunshine at the far end of the Park, ginger brown and white shapes in the green grass.
Overhead a Bullfinch was flying, its stunning deep pink chest spotted, only as it landed in the Willow did I see the jet black head. As I admired, my ears were distracted by the chatting of Stonechats, looking in that direction a couple of fluffy newly fledged youngsters perched on the Blackthorn, alongside an adult male.
A flash of brilliant blue and an Adonis Blue butterfly moved by, just above the low growing Horseshoe Vetch and larger yellow flowers of Bird’s-foot Trefoil.
Patches of tall white and yellow Ox-eye Daisies alongside the amazing display of Pale Flax, with the pink spikes of Sainfoin scattered in amongst make a stroll around the meadows a delight.
Flitting around some Small Blues, a silver grey and dark brown shimmer as they move, Small Heath (a paler grey and orange brown) plus Dingy Skipper (yet another tone of brown!).
Disappearing into the scrub a couple of young Rabbits, while browsing amongst the grasses a male Roe Deer, sporting a fine set of antlers, while nearby a fawn, only a couple of month old – another good reason to ensure your dog is under very close control if not on a lead
The calling of a Chaffinch and a Chiffchaff from a Sycamore, made me look more closely at the tree, which is now covered in 3” long dangling flowers spikes, something so easily ignored.
In the moth trap last night some of the larger moths recorded were Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Privet Hawk-moth, Fox Moth and a Pale Tussock.
In the distance on the water a mass of Gulls, over 200 counted, including Kittiwakes, Black-headed Gulls and Herring Gulls.