A bright and breezy morning, with fluffy white clouds quickly tumbling across a bright blue sky.
Despite the wind, as I cross the Car Parks from the woodland, a screeching squadron of Swifts swerve past – dark, crescent shapes, their blood-curdling calls and ominous, sharp edged silhouttes giving them the traditional name of ‘Devil Birds’. One of my favourite sights and sounds of summer in Swanage, but not seen up here so often.
The buffeting breezes mean not too much bird-life on the wing this morning, though a Kestrel is battling the gusts above the Lighthouse Field, a Peregrine streaks by above the cliffs and a Blackbird is digging up breakfast on the Aviary lawn.
On the cliffs, our Guillemot colony is bustling with activity, with an increasing number of hungry chicks to feed. Guillemots and Razorbills bob in straggling lines on the water below, as Fulmars wheel smoothly above them. Nearby a Great Black-backed Gull adjusts her nest and cranes her neck to watch her partner returning from sea.
Rock Pipits hurl themselves high into the air, parachuting down on outspread wings and tail, filling the air with their piercing, ‘bouncing ping-pong ball’ song.
The meadows are looking glorious at the moment, with Common Spotted Orchids galore in shades ranging from almost white to a rich, ‘Raspberry Ripple’ pink, with many swarms of several dozen blooms.
The extravagant pink, black and gold flowers of Bee Orchids are also starting to appear, along with dark pink Pyramidal Orchids.
Ox-eye Daisies dance in the breeze, above a sea of Yellow Rattle, pink Sainfoin, Common Vetch, Eyebright and the single, dark pink flowers of Grass Vetchling, like little gems among the grass.
On the downs, patches of Wild Thyme hug the turf, alongside Birdsfoot Trefoil, Horseshoe Vetch and some Greater Knapweed.
A great time of year to appreciate Stinking Iris – one of the 2 native species of Iris, it is beautiful enough to be a garden plant with purple and white flowers. Also in the hedgerows, Bittersweet, Honeysuckle and Bryony.