The sunrise illuminated the Park in a glorious pink glow, which quickly faded away, to be replaced by a fog over the sea to the east. Gliding in and out of the grey cloud off Durlston Head were some spectacular white Gannets, while the Guillemots on the water under the cliffs were bathed in sunshine, meanwhile the upper ledge was packed full of these black and white birds. Flitting up behind me was a very smart Wheatear.
Off towards the meadows in the hope of finding some newly arrived migrant birds, and I was rewarded by the scratchy rattle of a Common Whitethroat – my first of the year. As it began its song its white throat was puffed up the feathers blowing slightly in the wind.
Around me the glorious sound of Skylarks was floating down from the sky, while 3 more of these ground nesting birds emerged from amongst the grasses of the meadow, fluttering up and down as they displayed.
From behind me, deep within the blossom covered Blackthorn clump the long reeling call of a Grasshopper Warbler caught my ear, despite looking intently the birds itself could not be seen.
A flock of Linnets were scattered, each on a spike of yellow flowered Gorse, while Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap were all spotted on the back of the downs.
On the ground the Early Spider Orchids seem to be popping up everywhere, as are Early Purple Orchids. The tiny flowers of the deep blue of Chalk Milkwort poking out of the grass, with Whitlow Grass and Hairy Violets also showing.
As I walked along the ridge I was stopped in my tracks by a call, only the first part of the Yellowhammer song, but the first time I’ve heard it this year, fantastic as this is one of my favourite birds.
Browsing on the newly growing leaves of Wild Clematis was female Roe Deer with Rabbits grazing nearby and in the woods, a Grey Squirrel scampering up the trunks of the Willow trees.
Along the walls patches of deep blue Green Alkanet, pink Herb Robert and Honesty with the pale yellow of Primroses – what a great time of year.
Sand Martin and Swallows are seen flying overhead