So whilst not a warm bright morning we have had the past few days it was still nice to get out for the early patrol. The first thing that greeted me was a Chiffchaff incessantly calling its see-saw song for all to hear. As I was passing down the diagonal path a Great Tit also showed itself, as a Swallow flitted overhead. On the ground I spy several species of Woodlouse.
I then came across an ant-hill that looked suspiciously like it had been raided by a Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis.
Down at the clifftop I am drawn to the calmness of the sea, with a lone fishing boat chugging its way back towards Swanage. A splendid Greater Black-backed Gull was swooping from the cliffs, keeping an eye out for any discarded fish from the fishermen. Along at the ledges the Guillemots are making a right din, the majority of them being on the ledges with some bobbing around out at sea.
The Kidney Vetch is springing up along the clifftops, mixing in with the Thrift as I spy a Common Carder Bumblebee and Solitary Bee buzzing from flower to flower. Moving along I spy a very bedraggled Red-Tailed Bumblebee on the ground, soaking wet and missing a couple of appendages. This can sometimes happen if the weather turns and they are caught out, so I brought the little guy back to base to warm up and dry off and feed on a sugar/water drink. As I am writing this it is buzzing its wings to warm up so will hopefully fly off to continue its hard work pollinating our flowers.
I was then drawn to a twittering close to me, which was a pair of Rock Pipits. From within the gully appeared a male Kestrel, and as I looked overhead I saw at least 20 Swifts swooping and gliding. These brilliant birds only touch land 3 times in their lives, feeding and sleeping on the wing including the yearly migration from South Africa to Britain.
As I return to base I admire the Speedwell and Eyebright, noting also a pregnant unidentified spider carrying its egg sack and finally a big orange-form Black Slug Arion ater.