Down to the cliffs this morning, via the Hereford cattle herd, to check they were happy in field 10a (where they were moved yesterday by the volunteer work party). The mothers and calves lying in the grass, while the sight and sound of Stonechats and Linnets came from the Gorse patch nearby.
The screeching of a young Peregrine, drew my attention away, eventually spotting this chick. A parent then also seen as it flew in from the sea.
The clifftop July specialities now in bloom, the pale green of Rock Samphire, the bright yellow of Golden Samphire and the purple of Durlston Rock Sea Lavender.
On the water almost 100 Guillemots, while the numbers of the ledges are dropping as the chicks leave. A look through the camera, and still a number of chicks on the ledge, some likely to leave tonight, other a few days still to go – keep up with the action via the live web-camera on our durlston.co.uk website.
Flying past calling loudly another black and white seabird – the Oystercatcher, sporting a long orange bill.
As I took a late stroll around the National Nature Reserve yesterday evening, the low sun was just dropping below the horizon, highlighting the waving grasses of the fields in a gorgeous manner. Overhead the screaming call of Swifts as they zoomed across the sky, speed and agility magnificent to watch, a few Swallows also in evidence, but these mostly nearer the tops of the hedgerows allowing for closer views.
As the light faded a young Fox trotted ahead of me, scattering when it realised my presence. This though was followed by superb views of two Badgers as they trundled along, their backsides swaying as they waddled!
To cap my wander a Tawny Owl was silhouetted against the sky, the flat face and wide wings quite distinctive, from another direction the fluttering of Pipistrelle Bats.