Last night’s Seabird Boat trip brought enabled views of some nine Puffins, along with Swifts and Kittiwakes beyond Durlston. It was a delight to see our Fulmars, Razorbills and of course Guillemots from a different viewpoint. A Peregrine Falcon was seen on Ballard down along with House Martins and Shags. Apparently the “familiar” Bottlenose Dolphin followed the boat for a while on its departure from Poole.
This morning I walked in from Langton, where at Langton House there was much House Martin activity about the eves. Two Swallows crossed my path upon the Priests Way. I heard a Dartford Warbler amongst the Gorse high above dancing ledge. A Buck and Doe Roe Deer scampered off from the “Coastal Ridge Path” only to observe me from the scrubby undercliff below.
Off the Verney Farm Mile markers two Gannets were seen heading west but one turned back east.
At Durlston Wall Brown, Speckled Wood the relatively large Common Blue, Gatekeeper and Small Copper butterflies were seen along with an unidentified reddish flying Beetle and a day flying moth. I believe I saw a Large Skipper based upon the stripe and spots pattern upon the upper wing.
The large hairy caterpillar with a white stripe down its back might have been the largest Brown Tailed Moth caterpillar I have seen yet.
Buff-tailed Bumble Bees visited Horseshoe Vetch flowers. I was delighted and surprised to find one Knapweed flower in full bloom. Honeysuckle and a Dog Rose showed two white flowers and retained shrivelled rosehips. Beside the Learning Centre the Dogwood had flower buds near opening.
Throughout my journey Skylarks were a feature as were Whitethroats. I was pleasantly surprised at the five or male Stonechats that were seen and heard one with its female mate.
Much of my walk was facing into the sun which was high above the clouds that obscured the Isle of Wight. The waning gibbous moon was seen in the in the predominantly clear sky. A glorious start to the day!