Even though it was a grey morning it was still wonderful to be out walking around Durlston. The sea was all flat and calm disturbed only by the incessant flapping of a Shag as it washed and by the sudden running of the Guillemots as a flock of 10 took off from it.
On the cliffs the last few seabirds remain with their chicks, 4 Guillemot chicks on the lower ledge accompanied by 40 adults –they should be here another 5 days after which they will all just about be old enough to fledge successfully – with luck.
The summer flowers are now in full bloom along the cliffs with the Common Mallow and Ploughman’s Spikenard, alongside the tall dark leaved Golden Samphire. Nearby the pale fleshly leaves of Rock Samphire cover patches of cliff and the Rock Sea Lavender provides a spray of deep lavender colour.
Walking up past the Lighthouse a high pitched calling alerted me to a couple of young Rock Pipits which were skulking amongst the mass of Wild Carrot.
From near the gully bridge the yaffling call of a Green Woodpecker caused me to raise my binoculars to watch the imminent show of the large green and yellow bird, only to see only a young Kestrel rising instead, another yaffle and a second Kestrel rose from the area and both were watched as they flew in circles – still no Green Woodpecker though! As one of the Kestrel landed on a small Sycamore branch it missed the hold and fell ignominiously off the branch – good thing it can fly!
A chatter of small birds drew my attention to a dead Blackthorn which was being occupied by 8 small birds, which on inspection turned out to be 4 Common Whitethroats, 2 Stonechat, a 2 Great Tits – all youngsters their plumage recognisable but not complete like the adult. Further up the hill a couple of Chiffchaffs and a flock of Goldfinches added to the variety.
Last night’s moth trap produced another good haul including 5 Elephant Hawk-moths - pink and green in colour, 4 Garden Tigers – black, white and red, Rosy Footman – an orangey pink and the bright yellow Brimstone – all showing that not all moths are dull and brown!