The sun is quite happily beaming down onto Durlston this morning and I can hear Grylo and his bird ringing team are on site from the beautiful, continuous calls that are floating over from the Wildlife Garden. Today they have had through their nets 6 Grasshopper Warblers, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Blackcap, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 15 Whitethroat and 1 Tree Pipit. Walking down the Lighthouse Road I crouch down to observe a Small Skipper outstretched on some deep purple Knapweed, basking in the glorious rays of Dorset sun. Darting nearby, always seemingly on the wing, were a succession of busy Meadow Brown butterflies, who seem to be all under the impression that something exciting was happening, but no one knows where! Stopping at the White Bridge I scan the Clemetis Vitalba, with the purple and yellow flowers of Bittersweet woven through it, focusing on the bright Large White butterflies angling themselves for maximum sun soak. Then, as I continue to scan I can pick out a few Gatekeepers also enjoying the morning glow.
Standing in front of the Lighthouse I look out to sea, watching the Condor ferry heading to France kicking up a mighty back spray, which reminds me of a phone call that I took on the park yesterday. A member of the public phoned through a Dolphin sighting at Old Harry Rocks, two heading in the direction of Durlston. The unusual part of it was that he was on a ferry to France at the time of making the call! If you are reading this in France, thanks for the tip off!
Walking up from Tilly Whim I notice a male Peregrine Falcon on the first Mile Marker, right at the very top, with the best vantage point, scanning across the cliffs. Halfway down was a female Kestrel, scanning the Goat Plot. It seemed to be some kind of, excuse the pun, pecking order on this marker, with the apex predator holding court at the top! As I wander back up the Diagonal Path I see a Common Lizard scuttle off as I disturb it basking on the gravel, warming up its blood for a days activities!