I entered the woodland this morning to the chirring of a Great Tit and the repeated whistling of a young Sparrowhawk sounding from somewhere up in the canopy. I snake my way back out of the woodland towards the zigzag path to try and spy the young raptors there.
At the weekend I was lucky enough to see one of the parent birds flying over here with a meal in its grasp… As the adult bird approached a tree, four juveniles suddenly flew up, seemingly from nowhere, in an effort to be fed first. Five Sparrowhawks all together in the air at once – it was awesome sight!
Although I couldn’t see any this morning, I’m glad I walked across; It’s a beautiful warm spot with Durlston Bay framed by the surrounding trees. Sunlight sparkles on the water where a boat has just come in close to the shore. Countless Gatekeeper butterflies dance around the Red Valerian, rosy-pink Hemp Agrimony, and drooping florets of Buddleia.
A continuous churring of insects can be heard from amongst the undergrowth. A quick rustle amongst the Horsetails and Old Man’s Beard reveal a Great Green Bush Cricket leaping into the air and falling further down the slope.
I make way up the coast path and along the edge of Long Meadow; where sunny Fleabane flowers have blossomed across a bed of Red Bartsia. At the Castle, crisp Holm Oak leaves tumble down the side of the Dell where three Blackbirds scrape through to soil looking for and early morning snack.
A quiet morning on the sea cliffs, a lone Chiffchaff jumps between the ferny strands on Tamarisk, whilst a Dunnock can be heard amongst the Gorse. I spend a while watching a Herring Gull sat unusually high up on the cliff top. He stares sternly back at me. It would take a lot more than my presence to scare him off from that comfy grassy spot!
On my way back to the centre I manage to spot a Peregrine passing overhead, and now as I sit in the office writing up this diary, we receive a report that three or four Bottlenose Dolphins have just been sighted from Durlston Head. I spent a good while staring out to sea this morning, thinking that today could be the day… Typical!