A wonderful early morning patrol across Durlston, with the sound of Skylarks singing above the meadows and the cheeping of young Whitethroats, Stonechats and Great Tits heard as I wandered along the downs and hedgerows.
A deep chestnut shape just showing through the curtain of green grass caught my eye, and focussing in a stunning male Roe Deer was standing watching me and the dog as we moved along the field edge.
The sound and smell of seabirds wafted up from the cliffs, were the ledge was occupied by a few Guillemots plus a huge Raven perched on the top of the rock. On the water 149 Guillemots were counted alongside 7 Razorbills, the lighting making the colouration of these two similar birds easy to tell apart. During the count my binoculars came across a Great Black-backed Gull pulling at something on the water, which on inspection was a dead adult Guillemot.
Zooming right to left was a Peregrine Falcon who disturbed the Feral Pigeons on the rockface, while moving the other way with a screech was a Kestrel. The butterflies seemingly a little slow to get up this morning, but a couple of Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Small Heaths, Small Skippers and Adonis Blues (1 male, 1 female) were spotted.
Flowers galore including the Corky Fruited Water-dropwort (one of the best names ever), Goatsbeard, Hogweed, Bee Orchids, Ox-Eye Daisies, Sainfoin, Bush Vetch, Hop Trefoil, Grass Vetchling, Hay Rattle and Rough Hawkbeard with in the centre a Thick-kneed Flower Beetle – although thick-thighed is more appropriate)
Last night in the bright moonlight, as Rabbits bounded around the car park, the moth trap was out and as well as attracting moths such as Large Elephant Hawkmoth, Lackey, Peppered, Large Yellow Underwing, Reddish Light Arches and The Flame, Pipistrelle Bats were in attendance taking advantage of the moths as they arrived.
Later Reports : 11am : 1 Puffin amongst the Guillemots on the water