The strong north-easterly breeze making for a choppy sea and a very pleasant and slightly chilly walk – I even thought about wearing my jumper!
Along the clifftop to watch and enjoy the antics of the Guillemots on the sea, their gentle bobbing interspersed with flurries of wings flapping and turning over in the water, the white bellies facing upwards for a moment, this along with the regular ‘crash’ landings and sudden eruption as they take off in a whirr of wings, making for a busy view.
The young chicks have been fledging in good numbers over the last few evenings, the action watched via the live feed on our website.
The bright purply pink of the Common Mallow scattered along the cliffs, while just one or two patches of the subtler pink Thrift remains in flower. On the ground small carpets of Wild Thyme, the tiny flowers forming a mat, as I look closely other flowers are spotted including the off-white Squinancywort, as well as Eyebright and (the end of the) Chalk Milkwort.
Zooming around a Swift, the wings swept back and looking all black as it whizzes across the sky. Nearby a couple of Swallows also in flight.
From the tops of the Blackthorn the scratchy calling of Common Whitethroats to be enjoyed, alongside the knocking call of the Stonechats.
It was great also to hear a Yellowhammer, which took much searching, eventually spotted amongst the Bramble, the yellow head flashing in the sunshine. Up near the Quarr a Cirl Bunting was seen, stripier and more green than its close cousin the Yellowhammer.
Lots of butterflies about, with the black and white Marbled White the most conspicuous, but the small dull brown Lulworth Skippers and the brighter Small Skippers are both easily spotted. I was delighted to spot the jewel-like turquoise of a male Adonis Blue as well as a stunning Small Copper basking on the ground.