A wonderful wet and windy early morning saw me don full waterproofs in an attempt to keep dry – unsuccessful as it turned out as both trousers and boots leak!
Despite this it was exhilarating down by the lighthouse as the rain swept up the coast, at sea the sight of a few brilliant white Gannets, showing magnificently against the churning grey sea, the long white wings tipped with black as they skimmed just above the waves.
Hopping around the cliff edge, the streaky grey Rock Pipits sometimes called to each other, around them flowers waved in the wind and water trickled down the path.
Right on the rock face the deep purple flowers of Durlston Rock Sea Lavender are poking out of sepals, alongside the greeny-yellow Rock Samphire and deep green leaves of Golden Samphire.
The short turf, where the grasses don not have an overwhelming foothold, a good place to stop and enjoy the small but perfectly formed wildflowers. Some gorgeous delicate pale blue Harebells, the oddly named mass of tiny flowers of the Squinancywort and the purple striped hoods of Eyebright, plus pink Wild Thyme and both Dwarf Thistle (also known as the Picnic Thistle, due to it being sat on at picnics!) and some very short Black Knapweeds adding bright purple to the spread.
Slowly sliding their way across this were the Spiral Snails (Cochlicella acuta), which looks most strange when moving as this tiny tall spire makes its way across the ground.
Fluttering around the ladies loos was a Drinker, this large furry brown moth has a prominent snout!
If the sun comes out, look out for other insects including Dor Beetle, Thick-kneed flower Beetle and Soldier Beetle. Marbled White, Ringlet, Small Skipper and Lulworth Skippers butterflies which were all seen yesterday.
From the Orange Blossom three Wood Pigeons erupted with loud claps of wings as they took off at easy.