A pigeon dives then re-ascends in the early morning sun
As I watch it cruise
It makes me muse
When birds fly, are they having fun?
I arrived at Durlston to find a cool sunny morning with cumulous and stratus clouds populating a pale blue sky. Great start as far as I’m concerned. A Chiffchaff was hopping between the branches of a Sycamore as I set out over the recently mown car park. A few Bristly Ox Tongue had escaped the whirling blades, as well as a short Ash sapling.
A black smudge tracing a rapid path over Long Meadow revealed itself to be a Swallow upon the application of a pair of binoculars. Several dozen more were sighted throughout my morning stroll, but I enjoyed this one the most. Through the copse at the end of the Overflow Car Park I spotted a vivid patch of yellow Fleabane, illuminated by a shaft of light penetrating the canopy. Quite a striking image.
I made my way down the Clifftop Trail beside the castle, Red Admiral butterflies fluttering over and around me. Out to sea a container ship was passing eastwards and sat right in the middle of the morning sun’s dazzling reflection on the water. Its silhouette looked for all the world like a castle rising impossibly from the middle of the waves. I’ve been reading too many King Arthur stories again.
Great Tits were calling to each other from the Tamarisk bushes, with the loud rattle of a Magpie intermittently cutting through the air. Stonechats were also being very vocal, occasionally fluttering in to view to show off their orange chests. Common Gulls, Greater Black Backed Gulls and Jackdaws populated the Cliffside, and down by the Tilly Whim Caves abundant sprouts of Golden Samphire swayed in the gentle breeze. Meadow Brown butterflies were to be seen, as well as the occasional Large White. As I walked back up the diagonal path I was amazed when a Whitethroat, then a Blackcap both flew in front of me, perched on a bush in clear view for a little while and then took off. I wish they always made it this easy for me.
Our very own Hamish Murray was also out and about this morning, having spotted Siskins, three types of Wagtails and a Tree Pipit.