It’s a pleasant morning as I start my walk this morning. As I walk past the learning centre I notice lots of Painted Lady Butterflies fluttering about, I noticed this also yesterday evening outside of the park near Swanage, where there was a swarm of them! Looking around a Soldier Beetle was spotted as well as magpies making noise up in the Sycamore above. I go into the bird hide for a quick look outside, eating from the bird feeder are Blue Tits, Goldfinches and Chiffchaffs, while wildflowers such as Ox-eye Daisies, Common Spotted Orchids and Birds-foot Trefoil are growing well.
Into Field 34, a Wren and Chiffchaff are both singing away, lots of cuckoo spit from the Froghopper is evident, and I pass a Field Maple and Ash to get to the gate. Passing the gate into South Field a Buff-tailed Bumblebee is spotted going into hedgerows of Blackthorn and Hawthorn, and then I look at the wildflowers: Pale Flax, Meadow Buttercups, Field Bindweed, Rough Hawkbit (many being pollinated by solitary bees and other tiny pollinators), Birds-foot Trefoil, Hop Trefoil, Yellow Rattle, Common Sorrel, and towards the next gate an abundance of Common Spotted Orchids. Butterflies are also seen as I walk: Common Blue, Meadow Brown, and the Adonis Blue. While songs from a Song Thrush in the distance, as well as a Wren and Skylarks closer by, and a call from a Crow can be heard while admiring the wildflowers.
Into Saxon and on to the Quar, I instantly spot Kidney Vetch and Horseshoe Vetch, little bits of Blue can be seen from Common Milkwort, and small flowers from Eyebright can also be spotted as well as the yellow from the Mouse-ear Hawkweed. As I look up, I am excited to spot my first Bee Orchid of the year, which is earlier than I have found it in the past. Other plants such as Wild Thyme, Pale Flax, Hoary Plantain can also be found. While searching I spot a Dingy Skipper, as well as hearing Swifts in the near distance and a Raven call further away in the opposite distance.
Have a great Saturday!