It was a refreshing having a little light rain and despite this and the cloud there was insect activity! Several Gatekeepers were gently active and Meadow Brown on the coast path rested between the cock & hen cap stones of a dry-stone wall where two Garden Snails were found. A Greenfinch appeared near the centre, being visible when in came out onto the pathway between scrub cover. Rain (and perhaps heat) had caused the Tufted Vetch to droop into the path. Close by at the foot of the hedge a Pyramidal Orchid retained its bloom. At the Small Copse Ash, Sycamore and Holm Oak leaves interrupted the falling of rain drops and created a soothing pitter patter sound. Meanwhile, below a slender Black Slug traversed over the large leaf of a Winter Heliotrope. On the clifftops Golden and Rock Samphire flowered beside Sea Lavender.
There was much westward traffic of birds of the cliff this morning with a regular flow of groups of Herring Gulls. However, it was possible that they performed a circuit in part passing over land. Flying low over the water were two Black Headed Gulls (well brown actually!). I studied them in the hope that they were Terns. Shortly I heard the squawks of two Sandwich Terns and saw them with their black “caps” also on low westward flight. Three separate Shags chose east bound journeys whilst a pair of Great Black Gulls were content to rest on the lip of Tilly Whim wave cut platform. Looking towards Durlston Head there was a Peregrine Falcon looking back as it perched on the tip off the cliff top, just where the vegetation ceased. A little later I heard the familiar Falcon calls and just caught sight of a pair of Peregrine Falcons initially flying east over the sea together.
Perched upon one of the ladder rungs of the Upper Mile Marker a Kestrel undertook some light preening. On the slope above the mile markers it was Corky Fruited Water Dropwort that created a carpet of flowers. Lady’s Bedstraw, Field Scabious, Greater Knapweed, Yellow Wort, Yarrow and the later flowering Fleabane all showed blooms. Marbled White was seen but more exciting was the Humming Bird Hawk Moth that visited castle flowers. Whilst at the castle the calls of a Greater Spotted Woodpecker were heard.