With the bright sunshine and blue skies, a stroll down to the cliffs seemed a good option, below the water flat and blue, twinkling in the light. Flapping low across was a Shag, the dark body.
Gazing along the cliffs, the shape of a Peregrine stuck out, as it perched on the small ledge. A great view of the slate grey back, pale chest, flecked with brown and large yellow feet, the talons curled slightly as it gripped the rock.
Further up the cliff, a second Peregrine was also perched, this one looking a bit more tatty, it then launched from the rock face with a cry and headed out into the distance.
Along the clifftop the flitting movement of a Wheatear, its white rump obvious as it flicked its tail up and down. Nearby the grey Rock Pipit strutted over the rocks.
As I peered over the edge to see the Durlston Rock-sea Lavender, zipping around the plants and the bare soil were a number of bees. The first time this year I have seen Ivy Bee - Colletes hederae. The furry body and distinct stripes of its abdomen quite distinctive. Along this section of cliff lots of small holes from which they would have just emerged as adults.
A flash of bright yellow and a Clouded Yellow butterfly landed on the Rock Samphire flowers, as it closed its wings it turned pale green merging well with the flower! Another 5 Clouded Yellow seen along this section including one paler in colour – but no time to study it before it disappeared.
A Red Admiral butterfly glided by, and a Common Blue and Holly Blue also spotted as I walked around.
Back towards the Ranger’s Office where a Great Spotted Woodpecker looped across the sky above me. Then in the Willow a Spotted Flycatcher was showing off its acrobatic ability to catch flies in flight then return to its perch – just wonderful.