From the bottom of the gully by the lighthouse bridge came the call of a Bullfinch, this almost squeak like sound carrying well on the airways and being echoed by more calls from other patches of this large scrubby area. Following the sounds with my binoculars I was determined to find the culprits, after a number of minutes, suddenly perched in full view on a dead branch of Hawthorn was a gorgeous male Bullfinch, the pink chest in stark contrast to the perfect dapper black head and grey back.
Nearby I began a search for Autumn Gentian, but to no avail, I did however find my first Autumn Ladies Tresses, the tiny white flowers spiralling up the grey green stems.
A good variety of our other small downland flowers are still in bloom with the Eyebright, Bastards Toadflax and Squinancywort a pale whitish colour, Ladies Bedstraw and Bird’s-foot Trefoil a yellow and the pink of Restharrow and Wild Thyme, plus the purples of Small Scabious and Dwarf Thistle.
The golden but dead looking Carline Thistle adding to the flower list with Wild Carrot, Wild Parsnip, and Ox-Eye Daisy.
Walking with what reminds me of a mechanical swagger was a Greater Bloody-nosed Beetle, the purple undersides catching the sunlight as I watched, nearby two Garden Snails were coupled in a pile of froth.
Making use of part of the seven miles of Dry-stone wall at Durlston was a Wheatear perched on the capping stone. As I enjoyed the sight it bowed up and down, flicked its tail and with a white flash of its rump moved further along the wall.
On the ground nearby were two Pied Wagtails both following on of the Hereford Cows which are grazing the downland slopes.
In the meadows the wind was bending many of the plants sideways, adding weight to a Ragwort stem was a Red-tailed Bumblebee, the flower almost dipping to the ground.
The moth light trap was put out last night, although it was rather windy a few species were noted, these included the Copper Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Scalloped Hazel and Silver Y.