A quite glorious early morning, for once I was accompanied by other as the Friends of Durlston were providing marshals for the Purbeck Marathon and Nordic Walking festival.
The first sighting was of a bird of prey hanging high in the sky, the lighting making it look large and dark all over, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk or Peregrine? The hanging rather than the classic hovering activity of a Kestrel added to the doubts. Eventually it turned and the sun shone on its chestnut-red back and grey tail making it unequivocally a Kestrel. But it just goes to show how difficult size and colour can be when trying to identify a bird!
The click-click-click of the Nordic Walkers as they tapped their poles as they walked down the lighthouse access road heard above everything else.
The scrub bushes along the route seemed to be dripping with Blackcaps today. The constant movement of these greyish warblers as they flitted from the Apple tree to the red berry laden Hawthorn, the flashes of jet black and bright brown cap visible through the branches. I counted at least 30 as I watched.
Overhead the numbers of Swallows and House Martins was amazing, hundreds swooping through the skies, and many more perched on the wires across the gully. The white rumps of the House Martins easy to spot as they veered around as were the long tails of the adult Swallows, however many of the others were less easy to tell apart due to speed, angle and silhouetting!
However, standing out amongst them was a Swift, the long more swept back wings showing up against the blue sky.
A couple of Meadow Pipits and a Common Whitethroat noted. As were 2 Stonechats by the lighthouse, a flock of Goldfinches on the seed heads of Hemp Agrimony and the Gorse, plus a Long-tailed Tit family moving through the Brambles.
The bird ringing records continue, with 4 Nightjars rung, all arriving first thing in the nets, acquiring a tiny identifying ring on their leg before migrating south back to Africa. Also the first Goldcrest of the year.
Lots of Small Whites, some Large Whites, Red Admirals, Comma and Adonis Blue butterflies seen so far.