Before heading out this morning I stopped by the Hide Garden where the bird ringers were busy working. They had a small Robin with them which they had identified as being born this year, through checking the colour of the mandible and also shape and fullness of the bird’s wind feathers. Fascinating stuff! It all happens very quickly before the ring is added and the bird is released. Who knows where or when this little robin will be identified next time! Other bird species spotted by the ringers and Hamish this morning include; Redstart, Whinchat, Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, and nine species of Warbler: Willow, Blackcap, Sedge, Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Garden and Grasshopper. The last of which is aptly name for it’s fantastic insect-like characteristic call.
On my walk I was trying to work out whether I was hearing a Chiffchaff or a Willow Warbler, which are similar in call and appearance. Following this up with Katie afterwards apparently the Willow Warblers have lighter coloured legs and brighter yellow feathers. Although less in abundance at Durlston, the Chiffchaffs can sometimes over-winter here whereas the Willow Warblers will leave in September.
In the lighthouse field the grasslands are becoming browner, with a much drier appearance, as the brightly coloured flowers of spring and summer go to seed. As we near September, the park will start to see more colour in fruit rather than flowers, like the bright red berries of the Hawthorn trees. The leaves of the Pear Trees down by the gully bridge have even started to brown and fall to the ground.
There are many Meadow Brown butterflies out and about at the moment; a big change from a couple weeks ago when the weekly butterfly transect was dominated by Marbled Whites. A good few Common Blues, and also a single Adonis Blue was spotted this morning fluttering past the purple flowers of Red Bartsia. I checked my watch and realised it was time to head back. As I headed back up the hill I heard the familiar loud screech of a Peregrine, and managed to turn just in time to see him or her swoop down over the cliffs and out of sight.