Having chosen a walking commute, I was fortunate to only experience spits of rain. Along the coastal ridge there were the familiar yellow flowers of Hay Rattle, Butter Cups and Horseshoe Vetch along with the sound of Skylarks. For a short distant I had a quartet of Goldfinches dancing ahead of me. Near the Verney Farm measured mile markers, a pair of Gannets were heading east off shore.
The coastal slopes with our electric fence lines provided a clear contrast between the grazed and un-grazed areas. The Hereford Cattle have had the desired effect in controlling the cover of the invasive and domineering Tor Grass which can swamp out more delicate flowers. Vivid pink / plum Valerian flowers grew out of an old quarry face. Nearby raisin size sloes had formed upon Blackthorn. A clump of Bramble had been defoliated by Brown Tailed Moth Caterpillars, however, Cleavers and Honeysuckle had been left untouched! Amongst the leafless tendrils was a Dunnock nest. The adults might have made the most of the once abundant caterpillars!
West of Anvil Point a Cormorant flew west high above the sea. Shortly an Angling Vessel with a collection of rods upright like spines appeared to also follow the seabird. Even from the ridge a Guillemot was heard from the cliff sedge below. A later inspection revealed only two such birds, but a Fulmar also appeared.
Upon the well-trodden down land path of the Wildlife Trail several Bee Orchids had so far escaped trampling. The ground hugging Wild Thyme flowered with one patch having a few Eye Bright flowers popping through it. Upon Lighthouse Green at least five stems of Agrimony showed yellow spikes of flower beside the Wild Gladioli.
Looking up from Lighthouse Road Bridge approach, a Kestrel passed overhead. The hunter shortly took up a rest point upon the overhead wires.Despite a clump of flowering Vipers Bugloss flowering on the NT land it was not seen in its past Durlston spot downhill of Lighthouse Road cutting. Today Buff Tailed Bumble Bees were seen visiting Thrift on the cliff tops and Eyebright upon the downs. Only one butterfly was seen this morning and frustrating it chose to rest with its wings closed!