I am sad to report that today is my last day here at Durlston. I have had a great year, learnt a huge amount, seen and photographed some amazing wildlife and met some brilliant people. Moving on to the interesting bit –
I start with the report of a Bombardier Beetle from yesterday evening, as well as the sighting of at least seven Dolphins. A video of these is online on the Facebook page.
Leaving the base I straight away found a rather gruesome but equally fascinating scene of a recently deceased Dor Beetle, which was being dismembered and carried away by a group of Yellow Meadow Ants. Owing to the blustery winds there was not much to see in the early morning haze, apart from several thousand Swallows and House Martins preparing for their migration back to South Africa, and a juicy looking Large Black Slug squidging its way across the freshly cut meadow.
Along the clifftop I saw several Greater Black-backed Gulls and a single Shag. The air is buzzing with late season invertebrates out foraging, and I noticed several soggy-looking Common Carder Bumblebees clinging on to plant stems, no doubt warming up and drying off. Butterfly-wise, I spied Meadow Brown, Large White, Common and Adonis Blue and a beautiful fresh Small Copper. On the way back up the downland I also saw plenty of small mammal evidence in the way of tunnels through the long grass.
Stopping in briefly at the wildlife area where the bird ringers were working I was told of Grasshopper Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Swallows, Blackcaps and a Robin. I then was informed of an Orlotan Bunting, as well as a Convolvulus Hawkmoth sighted along the coast path.
The moth trap overnight yielded amongst others a Small Emerald and several Carpet Moths as well as an as-yet unidentified Shieldbug. My last entry is of an ever-present Bloody-nosed Beetle, which I nearly trod on upon returning to base!