A fresher feel this morning, with a steady south-westerly breeze making it an ideal day for the Purbeck Marathon, which will passing through later.
Long-distance athletes overhead too, with Swallows and House Martins circling the pond just outside the Learning Centre, their tail streamers almost brushing the water as they gulp down tiny insects.
Down in the shelter of the Gully, migrants are out early feeding up, in preparation for the journey ahead. Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats flutter over the dense scrub, as Blackcaps hungrily pull the berries from Elder.
Above the slopes of the Lighthouse Field, the twittering of Linnets heard, with a flock of 30 or so seen a moment later, while lower down, a colourful ‘charm’ of Goldfinches feed on the fluffy seeds of Woolly Thistles. A few Meadow Pipits passing overhead, with a noisy, bustling family of 20 or so Long-tailed Tits jostling for position and rotating through 180 degrees as they feed among the tangle of Old Man’s Beard.
A quiet morning along the cliffs, although Peregrine and Kestrel are out hunting, with a pair of gleaming white Gannets passing by out in the distance.
As the summer draws to a close, the meadows and downs have faded to shades of soft gold and bronze, however, there are still plenty of flowers to enjoy. Fluffy yellow Ladies Bedstraw can be found on the short turf, along with Restharrow, Eyebright and the beautifully named Squinancywort. Among the longer grass, Field Scabious is in bloom along with Rough Hawkbit, Yarrow, Great Knapweed and Common Ragwort – all useful late sources of nectar.
Also in bloom, our final orchid of the year, the elegant, intricate Autumn Ladies Tresses – do ask in the Castle if you want to find it, as it is usually no more than 2 or 3 inches high (but well worth getting down on your hands and knees for).
Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small Heath and Common Blue butterflies seen in more sheltered spots, with other invertebrates including a magnificent Tiger Spider and lots of gently plodding Bloody-nose Beetles.
In the hedgerows, masses of fruit and seeds, including those of Bramble, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Bryony, Bittersweet, Honeysuckle and Madder.