A still, mild start to the day, with the smells of spring filling the air – a lovely mixture of coconut-scented Gorse, new cut grass, the sweet smell of Blackthorn blossom and the sea.
Cowslips paint swathes of yellow across the meadows, though after the cold snap, they are still rather small, maybe give it a week to see them at their very best?
On the downs hundreds of Early Spider Orchids are now in flower. Watch where you tread, as over 50% of the UK population of this plant grows along the Purbeck Coast and their green and brown flowers are just a couple of inches above ground at the moment!
Also in bloom, taller dark pink Early Purple Orchids, with their distinctive black spotted leaves, and the very first Green-winged Orchids on the downland slopes.
The corkscrew leaves of Crow Garlic poke out above the grasses, while the turf is studded with the fluffy flowers of Good Friday Grass and Glaucous Sedge.
On the short turf, constellations of Hairy Violets are starting to appear, with plenty of Dog Violets in the woodland.
Lots of different members of the cabbage family in flower, including Hairy Bitter-cress, Whitlow Grass, Shepherds Purse and dense patches of white Whitlow Grass, hugging the clifftop.
Other spring flowers include Lesser Celandine, Primrose and Bluebell.
2 Speckled Wood butterflies are dogfighting on the path between the Learning Centre and the Castle, with Peacock also on the wing this morning, while in the longer grass, glossy black Bloody-nose Beetles are mating.
A few Swallows whizz in off the sea, with Meadow Pipit, Yellow Wagtail and Linnet also passing overhead.
If you are visiting Durlston, don’t forget to pop into the Castle and check out our live Guillemot camera – the ledges are full of this charming bird this morning.