Another glorious early morning here at Durlston, with the sound of Skylarks echoing across the countryside, these larks spotted against the vibrant blue sky while others skimmed the tops of the meadows before plunging down and skuttling along the ground to their nests and hopefully chicks. So as not to disturb them please keep (you and your dogs) to the paths.
A wonderful display of wildflowers to be enjoyed with yellow everywhere from the Meadow and Bulbous Buttercups, to the tall Yellow Flag Iris through to the Bird’s-foot Trefoil and the carpet of Horseshoe Vetch.
The dazzling vivid blue of an Adonis Blue caught my eye, as it flitted through the grasses where a Common Blue, was perched on the leaves of Common Vetch. The two blues easily distinguishable at such close quarters. Other butterflies spotted included the Small Copper, Speckled Wood and Dingy Skipper (which on close inspection is really quite attractive!).
In amongst a patch of yellow-green Crosswort, were clumps of Cuckoo Spit dangling, this froth hosting in a protective cocoon a tiny nymph of a Froghopper inside.
At sea, no sign, as of yet, of the Bottlenose Dolphins which were spotted yesterday, however a string of 5 Gannets headed westwards, bright white bodies gleaming in the sunlight.
On cliffs, jostling on the ledge, hundreds of Guillemots, many now sitting of eggs with a few now hatched, their small fluffy black and white chicks hidden behind their wings to keep them safe, the occasional beak poking out.
The strong winds recently have caused some of the leaves to turn a shrivelled brown, especially noticeable on some of the Hawthorns, Ash and Apple trees, as well as the Gladious by the Lighthouse.