The wondrous sights of Durlston can be easily forsook
By those who spend each moment dashing from tree to hill to brook
That’s why you need to take the time to stop and simply look
As I entered the Park through Long Meadow I was accompanied by several Meadow Brown butterflies, fluttering from hedge to meadow and back. The Car Park was quieter than usual, with the distinct two tone song of a Chiffchaff the main feature, along with a few brief chirps from Chaffinches and a rattling Great Tit.
Crossing in to South Field I walked past swaths of Rough Hawkbit, interspersed with Common Spotted Orchids and a few emerging Pyramidal Orchids and a low covering of Birds Foot Trefoil. The croaks of Jackdaws drew me around and I started heading for Milepost Slope.
Exiting the bottom of Saxon Field I took a few moments to enjoy the scene. The glorious blue ocean stretched out as far as the eye could see, a few distant Gannets circling above, a couple of small yachts leisurely sailing past. “What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.”
Patches of Crosswort were scattered along the path edges as I made my way to the Mile Marker Slope. A Whitethroat was singing as I made my descent, perched on a Hawthorn bush, with patches of Tor Grass and Wild Carrots growing on the ground nearby.
Travelling along the Clifftop Trail, I caught sight, sound and smell of our resident Guillemots, which was quite an overpowering combination. The ledge was packed, and the floating raft was significantly larger than I have seen before, stretched out in a long crescent. I made no attempt to count the birds, suffice to say there were a lot. A Shag circled round over the floating mass, before coming into land on the cliffs.
The path up to the castle was lined with Dog Roses, and I decided to return to the Learning Centre through the woodlands to enjoy the shade. Harts-tongue Ferns were growing in abundance, and one of the logs lining the path supported an impressive Oyster Fungus. The remainder of my walk was pleasantly cool and I got back to base in good spirits. I wish you all a pleasant morning.