The meadows hum with excitement this morning as the Grasshoppers celebrate England’s 3-2 win against Mexico in the early hours. I don’t think the Gatekeepers stayed up for the game, with their notable energy for fluttering about hedgerows; now filled with blossoming Bramble and Traveller’s Joy.
I swing by the paddock to see the final Bee Orchid flower fading as it goes to seed. This late specimen standing an impressive 2’ in height; the tallest one I’ve ever seen. Through July our meadows will thrive as a mosaic of colour; purple Knapweeds, umbels of Wild Carrot white and pink, and plentiful spikes of the yellow Agrimony.
Turns towards the cliffs to watch the Peregrine soar, the female flies close by me: impressively larger than the smaller male, and a screech which rings all along the coast. The pod of Bottlenose Dolphins were spotted twice yesterday - to the delight of rangers and visitors to the park. It’s a calm sea state once again today, this makes it easier to spot their dorsal fins emerge through the water’s surface.
It’s sad to say goodbye to many of our Guillemots as the remaining chicks jump from the cliffs for their first ever flight. A raft of just 16 adults upon the water close in the cliffs - perhaps some of the parents encouraging the final few chicks to take the leap of faith.
As if on cue, the harsh cronk of a Raven circling above. At least one of the Guillemots succumbed to predation by these birds yesterday, but overall a much better season for the Guillemots, with the Ravens nesting earlier in the year.
The grasslands have turned yellow following the heatwaves with the clay soil baked dry. Lulworth Skipper and Marbled White flutter between little islands of nectar found in the Wild Thyme, Lesser Hawkbit, and Mallow along the clifftop. Lesser Stag Beetle wandering through.
Bird ringer Mick reported catching a Willow Warbler and interestingly a Treecreeper – a little further than it’s usual habitat in the woodland.