Late Sighting: 12.15 group of 10-12 Bottlenose Dolphins heading north-east off Durlston Head
An early start to the day to make the most of the glorious sunny morning, on which I was joined by the songs of numerous Great Tits, the variety of music being emitted by these yellow and black birds is quite incredible.
In the background the ‘yaffle’ of a Green Woodpecker, the bird came into view as it undulated its way above the meadow, green, yellow and as it past by a flash of red.
A patch of Lesser Celandines just opening up, a few bright yellow waxy petalled flowers to admire. Nearby some small white flowers of the Common Whitlow Grass, while along the clifftops Greater Periwinkle and Primroses in bloom.
Swooping over Hogget Mead were 2 Skylarks, a wonderful sight and sound, for once fairly low and easy to spot, making views of their white tail edges and streaked feathering more obvious.
Down in the woodlands the drumming of a Great Spotted Woodpecker, such an irritating bird as even though I should know what branch of which tree to look in I still couldn’t spot the bird! How is it so difficult to find this black, white and red bird???
A quick look in a pond and two types of Newts were identified, these being Palmate and Smooth.
Above the caves an Adder was basking, the silver and black markings reflecting the sunlight, for once making it stand out.
Wandering across the lighthouse road was a Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle, a good view of the blue-purple colour especially around its joints. A bit further up the path a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle noticed as well, this looks like a much larger version of the Lesser species.
Perched on the top of a Gorse bush, which is covered in bright gold flowers was a Stonechat, this male with black head and very pronounced white flashes on its wings and neck. Nearby on the budding Blackthorn as a female, perhaps admiring the markings of this male. Alongside was a beautifully singing Chaffinch, buff, pink and a flash of white.