I had a probable sighting of my first Swallow this year, a brief view of a flitting flight pattern over reservoir copse.
We had a male and female pair of bask Adders side my side, head towards the Tilly Whim steps and bodies flattened to maximise the surface area in the sun.
The fluffy white rump of a Roe Deer gave away its position grazing beneath the rock escarpment in the gully.
The warm sunshine encouraging the insects to emerge, down near the observation point a bright yellow Brimstone flew, and a Peacock butterfly was basking on the path.
A number of Buff-tailed Bumble Bees in flight, these large furry beasts the earliest of our bumbles. Looking all furry, a bit like a bee, but not actually a bee is the Bee-fly. This almost triangular fly buzzes, hovers and lowers its long proboscis onto plants to suck up the sweet juices.
On the water below the cliffs were hundreds of Guillemots bobbing up and down, the sound of their calling – ‘gargling and growling’ filling the air. In amongst were a couple of much darker Razorbills.
Floating past in a menacing manner was a huge Raven, croaking as it disappeared onto a large crevice.
Moving the opposite way was a Peregrine Falcon, dashing purposefully towards Durlston Bay while a male Kestrel was hovering, the chestnut wings contrasting with the grey head.
The sound of Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails could be heard as they arrived from the continent, and perched on one of the dry-stone wall was a Wheatear, flicking its tail, despite its marking this bird only really becomes obvious when in flight and showing its white rump.
Some purple and blue flowers now blooming include Greater Periwinkle, Hairy Violet, Common Dog Violet, Green Alkanet and Speedwell, while the bright waxy leaves of Lesser Celandine contrast with the more gentle Primroses.