An absolutely stunning morning at Durlston Country Park. Clear blue skies, the stacks at Fawley Power Station looming on the horizon and could that be Sway Tower in the New Forest I can see this morning?
The bird ringers were back in, another early start but not quite as early as the mid summer visits when dawn breaks at 4.30am! Yesterday, at the public ringing event, they had over 100 Chiffchaff’s and just as I arrived, they had a Yellow-Browed Warbler and a Male Goldcrest. Today I thought I would pop in and see how they were doing and low and behold, they had just taken a Yellow-Browed Warbler and a male Goldcrest out of the net! These weren’t the same ones as the day before so quite a coincidence considering they are the only 2 Yellow-Browed Warblers they have ringed all year! I must attract them?
So on with my walk and as I cross the green by the Learning Centre I can see Blackcap, Great Tit, Blue Tit and the ever so vocal Robins. I tried to search out the Bullfinch that was calling but to no avail which is a shame as it’s one of my favourite birds to watch. But one of my other faves are now building up on migration, the Goldfinch. Some rather big flocks are passing through and are also covering the Thistles and picking through the berries. They come in so silently that you have no idea a flock has landed behind you. It’s not until you turn round and walk in their direction that they scatter and you wonder how they were all so well hidden! Regular readers of the diary will know I liken their calls in flight as to that of popping bubbles in a bath! At least that’s what I am hearing in my head! But I also compare the call of a Jackdaw to that of a laser being fired out of a blaster in Star Wars, so its subjective!
Walking down the diagonal path I stop to look at the Common Gorse which is still flowering some wonderful coconutty perfumed yellow flowers, adding pods of colour to the green vegetation of Old Mans Beard, Blackthorn, Ivy and Holm Oak that line the side of the path. A flick of movement attracts me to the top of some gorse and I see a rather long tail of a bird disappear below. I position myself by one of the benches and the wait pays off, a Dartford Warbler pops up and flits across the path to some more gorse and vanishes. Soon after a Female Stonechat appears, again at the top of some gorse, and puts on a great show, not at all as secretive as the Dartford. Hoverflies are darting in the morning sunshine and the larger bulk of bee’s are seen buzzing about but I was unable to ID those. Perhaps the Ivy Bee as I know they are breeding at the moment.
Above, the Goldfinch continue to pass through along with Linnet and Meadow Pipits. I can only observe them flying for so long before panning round and hitting a wall of sunshine, refracting through my binoculars and temporarily blinding me! I pop to the Gully and look around for anything of interest but I can only report 3 Magpie flying through. I about turn and push on to Tilly Whim caves and stop by the Adder Camera. I lovely sunny morning like this is bound to produce one of these fantastic reptiles and after a long time scanning through the rocks and long grass I finally locate a Male Adder stretched out, warming its blood before heading out on the hunt. If you are down in this area early on a sunny morning through October, bring your binoculars and have a look for them. You are quite safe here as they are nicely separated from you by the entrance to the caves.
Walking back along the cliffs I see about 30 Jackdaw, a Shag and a Raven carrying what looked like a sandwich wrapper! Litter lout! Below the cliffs I can hear a squabble between some Carrion Crow and as I get toward the observation point a Red Admiral glides past me and a little later, by the Castle a pristine Comma butterfly is resting, wings stretched on some Buddlea. Finally, upon arrival back to base, 3 Wheatear pass overhead, but no, my ability to ID birds in flight hasn’t improved that much. One of them had landed on the roof and gave me a good display. All in all, a great day to be out enjoying natures open book.