With the thick grey clouds overhead the sea was a churning mass of white waves and crests, skimming above this were glorious gleaming gliding Gannets. Spectacular to watch these, our largest seabirds, as they flew, then pivoted before plunging headfirst through the water to catch fish. Whizzing eastwards were 6 Shags, going quicker than usual due to following wind. Both Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls also around the cliffs.
As I walked along the edge of a Blackthorn hedgerow, a Sparrowhawk zoomed just above me, a dark brown, long tailed raptor travelling at speed, jinking as it reached the thorny bushes and then skimming over the top.
Out along the downland a Peregrine Falcon was calling, a piteous sound from such a powerful bird, this juvenile was harassing a Wood Pigeon which was perched on the top of a Gorse bush, while higher in the sky an adult watched on.
Along the cliffs the Sea Aster and Golden Samphire are providing a splash of colour alongside Rock Samphire, Common Mallow, Greater Knapweed, Ploughman’s Spikenard and the Durlston endemic Sea Lavender.
Clambering and eating the leaves of some Ragwort were the orange and black hooped caterpillars of the Cinnabar Moth and amongst the Wild Parsnip the Parsnip Sawfly larvae could be found.
Disappearing into the scrub was a Grasshopper Warbler, the rounded tail the most obvious feature, above were a couple of Willow Warblers and Common Whitethroats.
From the clambering Old Mans’ Beard came the piping call of Bullfinches, these brightly coloured birds showing well, while on the ground Chaffinches, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Great Tits and a Song Thrush all visible together. As I watched a Green Woodpecker yaffled loudly.
If the weather improves butterflies will emerge, on the west transect yesterday 15 species spotted including Chalkhill, Adonis, Common and Small Blue, Red Admiral and Painted Lady and the ‘browns’ Meadow Brown, Marbled White, Wall Brown, Hedge Brown and Grayling.
Splashes of other flowers to look out for include Marjoram, Small Scabious, Field Scabious, Red Bartsia and Hemp Agrimony. As well as clumps of the bright orange Montebretia.