Flowers all around
Durlston wears a spring garland
Richer than a crown
The car park was bathed in warm sunshine this morning as I headed out across the car park to Long Meadow. A Dunnock called softly from a Blackthorn as I passed by. As I approached the woodland I picked up the tones of a Great Tit and some Blue Tits from the treeline. The meadow to my right supported some Red Clover flowers. To my left, a Horse Chestnut was also in flower and a few Cow Parsley were blooming. Walking at Durlston is like being given a fresh bunch of flowers every morning, this place really knows how to treat a fellow right.
Inside the woodland, patches of Wild Garlic, also in flower, were dotted by the sides of the path. Blackbird song rang out from the treetops, and I spotted a few Lesser Celandine flowers amidst the undergrowth, though they’ve largely vanished from the meadows. A Green Woodpecker made itself known with its characteristic call, and a Chiffchaff broadcast its distinctive two tone song as I passed the Aviary and headed back.
Stopping by the John and Kori bench, a flash of red and black fluttered up from the floor and past me into the trees. I’d evidently just disturbed a Red Admiral basking in the sun. Oops. Further along the path, a Wall Brown crossed the path in front of me and alighted on a section of dry stone wall, which seemed appropriate.
A few Wrens were singing in the Holm Oaks beside the Castle as I made my way to the Clifftop Trail. Sea Campion flowers brightened the clifftops, with patches of Thrift further along. A few Greater Black Backed Gulls skirted the clifftops, and a Shag duck-dived for fish on the water below. As I returned to the Learning Centre, I caught the song of a Chaffinch behind me. There’s always one.