A change in the weather, with a low mist rolling through. I head down to the Castle to open the moth survey trap, and find it filled with fluttering wings. I don’t know many of the 500+ species that have been recorded at Durlston, but fortunately I’m joined by volunteer Duke who starts reeling off names before we even open the trap. Brussel’s Lace, Jersey Mocha, Scorched Wing, Blair’s Mocha, and so on.
I spot Brimstone, Buff Tip, a Small Blue butterfly, and two massive Privet Hawkmoths – so big that they haven’t been able to fit into the trap. I leave them to open the trap, and meticulously count and identify each moth for our records.
Durlston is officially in bloom. It’s a particular delight to see all of the ornamental shrubs around the Castle in flower. Yellow Hypericum, magenta and pale pink Fuchsia ‘ballerinas, and Mock Orange resplendent with white flowers. Stems of both white and pink Red Valerian reach out from the stone walls and crevices otherwise filled with Herb Robert.
Sunny Charlock lines the pathways to the Globe, with a Buff-tailed Bumblebee buzzing around the sea of yellow. Look out for the subtle but pretty Pink Sorrel and Common Mallow. By the clifftop I find a bright yellow Stinking Iris – looking out of place, for a flower which is usually purple, or mistaken for a Yellow Iris which would be somewhere more damp.
Our seabird boat tour on Friday night was a success with lovely close-up views of two Puffins paddling past the boat, and another at the back of the cave at Dancing Ledge. We also enjoyed seeing Guillemot, Razorbill, Shag, Cormorant, Kittiwake, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Sandwich Terns, and brief sighting (for some) of a Peregrine Falcon too.
As I finish writing the diary, Duke returns with a migrant Striped Hawkmoth for us to show in the Visitor Centre this morning. He also reports Olive Crescent, Ni, and Campion moths.