What a change too recently, with a coolish breeze and cloud dripping the occasional drop of rain.
From the Blackthorn and Elder bushes came the flitting of small bird, many of them a greenish yellow and brown in colour, most of these were Willow Warblers and a few Chiffchaffs.
The star of the show however was a Redstart, a glorious red tail flicking as it flew, then on landing amongst the flowers of the Old Man’s Beard, this and the other warblers were hanging underneath catching the insects hidden amongst the leaves.
Perched on the long branches of the rambling Honeysuckle was a Common Whitethroat, another landing alongside as did some Blue Tits and Chaffinches.
Two young Green Woodpeckers looking to be playing hide and seek around the trunk of a Hawthorn - most amusing!
Looking across to Ballard down the large black scar of last night’s fire could be seen, while the clearness of the view towards the Isle of Wight was stunning.
Soaring low above the dark sea was a white Gannet, showing fantastically as it moved, another following soon after. Along the coast the ‘autumn’ flowers are now in full bloom with Golden Samphire and Rock Samphire alongside the pale lilac Sea Aster while Wild Carrot and its parasite Carrot Broomrape are still showing well. A close inspection located the Durlston Sea Lavender still in flower, this rare species has recently been split from the more common Sea Lavender.
Returning back inland Greater Knapweed was providing some splashes of purple across the downland alongside the Small Scabious and Lesser Knapweed is the golden Carline Thistle and the Stemless Thistle, also known as the Picnic Thistle for its propensity to get in the way of as good picnic by pricking the unsuspecting behind!
In the meadows, especially in the areas left uncut after the hay cut, the patches of Restharrow and the semi-parasitic Red Bartsia cover the ground while the taller grasses of Crested Dog’s Tail, Quaking Grass, Cocksfoot and Yellow Oat Grass can still be spotted.