Another glorious early morning for a walk at Durlston Country Park National Nature Reserve. The highlight of which, for me, was a really good sighting of a Tree Pipit. This migrant popped up from a clump of scrubby Blackthorn called with its buzzing call, and then landed at the top of a lichen covered Hawthorn where I could view it easily. Later as I went past the Lighthouse a Rock Pipit perched on the rocks – these birds for once found living up to their names!
The wonderful sight of the white rumped pink breasted Bullfinch as it took flight from the gully, the squeak call easily recognisable, added to my joy as did the views of Willow Warblers and Goldfinches.
A super display of flowers still to be enjoyed, with the mixture of Wild Carrot and Greater Knapweed just glorious, added to this dominance of white and purple are the yellows of Agrimony, Ragwort and Bristley Ox-tongue. On closer inspection Lesser Knapweed, Wild Parsnip, Red Bartsia, Birds-foot Trefoil, Yarrow and Field Bindweed can also be spotted, as well as a variety of grasses.
Fluttering about these areas were Meadow Browns galore, plus Gatekeepers and Marbled White, while a Common Blue, an Adonis Blue and a Lulworth Skipper were seen later on my patrol as were Red Admirals and Small Whites.
Perched on the top of the bottom Mile Marker was a Peregrine Falcon, obviously taking advantage of this very handy viewpoint as it watched the world go by.
A good selection of young birds noticed this morning including the noisy Green Woodpecker, yaffling as it flew across ahead of my path, in the tumbling mass of Old Man’s Beard were juvenile Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, all slightly different colours to their parents.