Once more the early patrol accompanied by the lower temperatures of the early morning = lovely for now!
The sound of Meadow Grasshoppers was accompanied by that of the Field Grasshoppers as I slowly walked alongside the long brown grass. On closer inspection I was also able to see both species as they clung to the stems, the Field Grasshopper showing its ‘hairy chest’!
The lovely purple heads of Black Knapweed, alongside the purple of Tufted Vetch and the yellow of Meadow Vetchling. All around the white round flower head of Wild Carrots, the stem rough and with frondy leaves just below the flower.
Meadow Brown butterflies wandering across the fields, as was a Common Blue, which stopped to bask and perhaps feed, on the nectar of a deep purple Stemless Thistle.
The hedgerow awash with Hedge Brown butterflies, the dark outside contrasting with the paler brown inside of their wings as they fluttered, landing occasionally on the bright pink flowers of American Willowherb and of the duller pink Hemp Agrimony.
The strange flowers of Ploughman’s Spikenard along the clifftops alongside the Teasels, Rock Samphire and some lilac Durlston Rock-Sea Lavender.
Hopping along the clifftop a Rock Pipit, the call – when made – easily heard, as was the tinkling calling of a flock of Goldfinches.
After last nights guided Glowworm walk, I peered hopefully into one of the patches of short grass, where the gleaming green light had been spotted in the darkness, but no sign of this amazing female beetle this morning.
A few Pipistrelle Bats flitting around the wide pathway, but my attention was taken by the screeching call of a Tawny Owl, eventually found in the woods and then watched for a few moments as it silently flew ahead of me.