Near the Centre were the vivid mustard colour umbel flowers of Wild Parsnip whilst upon the Wares Cowslips and Early Purple Orchids stood out. Tight buds were yet to open on a Hawthorn. A rather pale Stonechat (initially thought to be a female) called from the Gorse. Above a Carrion Crow perched upon the Upper Mile Marker. A pair of calling Raven flew by and one deliberately dive bombed the Crow setting it off its post.
Not far offshore a trio of Gannets, including one juvenile, flew west. Later another flew in the opposite direction shortly to be followed by the first trio. It appeared the Gannets were circling off the Gully Mouth. Later seven more Gannets over took the solo oarsman whom was heading towards Swanage whilst checking his fishing pots. Above Tilly Whim wave cut platform Sea Campion and Thrift bloomed. Above the Tilly Whim steps were large “lace bonnet-like Wild Carrot compound flower heads. At the coast path edge a Sow Thistle’s flowers were yet to open, whilst Wild Madder held cuckoo spit. I questioned why a Bloody-nosed Beetle was climbing a leafless Blackthorn stem on the coast. Distinctive purple flowers and yellow stamen of Bittersweet were seen below Tamarisk tendrils.
At one point there were four Fulmars in arching flight off the sea cliffs. Off the observation point I saw a group of six Fulmar in a pack upon the sea whilst another two continue to appear to “bounce” off the cliff face. Three loose rafts of some forty to fifty Guillemots were on the sea. Amongst them were at least two Razorbills, although a further three were seen high up the cliff face near the cliff camera cable.
White Poplar leaves had emerged near the Dolphin Watchers Hut. I was treated to walking upon the freshly open surface at the Observation Point. Near the Great Globe steps, a good ten Greater Periwinkle flowers were open. A fallen wind-blown branch of Tamarisk held catkins still. Many Sea Cabbage flowers looked soon to open nearby. Garlic Mustard and Green Alkanet flowers decorated the castle approach verge. Over the empty car parks noisy Herring Gulls called. I was fortunate to have experienced this before the heavy rainfall!