Durlston’s grassland is incredible at this time of year – almost every day brings something new, but also familiar – very soothing in these strange times!
As the Early Spider Orchids fade away, Early Purple Orchids are still looking good – tall purple spikes with black spotted leaves, forming a great contrast with the yellows of Cowslips and Bulbous Buttercup.
In the deep shade of a patch of woodland, an early Common Spotted Orchid is starting to open it’s buds, with a few of the unusual green Common Twayblade orchids.
Elsewhere around the downs, patches of yellow-green Crosswort jostle for spaces with intense blue Chalk Milkwort, paler blue Field Speedwell, with a few early Ox-eye Daisies, just starting to open.
In the meadows, delicate blue Pale Flax trembles in the breeze, above seas of bobbing yellow Cowslips, while the paths are bordered with ‘tram-lines’ of Daisies.
Hawthorn (or Mayflower) is in full bloom, with many sweet-scented bushes topped with a singing Whitethroat, while Skylarks carol to the heavens nearby.
With such a warm start to the day, plenty of butterflies on the wing, including Common Blues, Walls, Speckled Woods and Red Admirals.
Clifftop flowers are also starting to bloom, with more Thrift appearing by the day. Down below, Guillemots and Razorbill bob on the sparkling water, with many more crammed onto the ledges.
Shags, Fulmars, Herring Gulls and a pair of nesting Great Black-backed Gulls also seen this morning.
A good moth trap last night, including Heart and Dart, Flame Shoulder, Treble Lines, Hebrew Character, Muslin Moth, lots of Brimstones and more…