With the sun shining brightly and barely a breath of wind it was a morning for a patrol along the clifftops of Durlston, and quite beautiful it was, with the sea a vibrant blue and flowers everywhere while insects buzzed about.
Flowers galore with the white coloured heads of Wild Carrot everywhere, the umbels sometimes more pink than white.
In amongst the bright green leaves of Black Bryony the deep chocolate brown wings of the Ringlets could be seen, these butterflies have been increasing in numbers over the last few years.
Fluttering around the globe was a Marbled White being chased by a Large White – in comparison the Marbled White really isn’t very white! Perched on a patch of Bramble was a Gatekeeper, while Meadow Browns were also flitting around.
The dull golden brown of the Lulworth Skipper caught the eye as it moved through the Tor Grass along the path edge, while a Small Skipper also basked in the sunshine.
The banks provide habitat for Yellowwort, Centuary and Lesser Centuary, Wild Thyme and Eyebright, Restharrow and Kidney Vetch.
The green flowers of Wood Sage, yellow spikes of Agrimony, array of Common Mallow and the delicate yellow of Ladies Bedstraw, added more colour and diversity to the walk.
The deep purple Greater Knapweed and paler Scabious also in bloom as is Spear Thistle and some early examples of Ploughman’s Spikenard.
Hopping along the path was a Robin, very tame this morning while in the Blackthorn scrub was occupied by 2 young chatty Stonechats, as I watched a Kestrel hovered.