Glorious is I think the best description for this Sunday morning, warm (but not too hot sunshine) a gentle breeze and the sounds and sights of Durlston. In the background the soft mooing of the Hereford cattle, while the various calls and tweets of the birds were more ear catching.
Down towards the Anvil Point Lighthouse, a wonderful view of a Spotted Flycatcher, which was perched on the twig of Hawthorn, its pale front flecked with streak of dark around its chest, around it the bright Haw red berries added a great contrast as I watched through my binoculars. Another 3 Spotted Flycatchers were close by all flicking their tails as they perched before whipping up and around to catch some prey.
Nearby, 3 Tree Pipits seen as they moved between the rough grass and onto edges of the Blackthorn scrub. Suddenly I was distracted by a flash of red as a Redstart moved, the tail still a fiery red colour as the rest of its magnificent plumage fades
Around the cows a few (probably about 12) Yellow Wagtails strutted, a few Swallows swept overhead and a stunning pink, black and grey Bullfinch squeaked as it moved towards the rambling pale lemon flowered Wild Clematis. Linnets, Greenfinches and Stonechats added more small bird variety to my stroll.
Clinging to the stems of Crested Dog’s Tail and Tor grass were a scattering of Common Blue butterflies, some wings closed, others already opened their blue wings to bask on the sunshine.
A little later the twinkling jewel of an Adonis Blue as it sunned itself on the short grass, such a vivid turquoise.
The meadows have mostly now bee n cut and baled, large rolls dotted in the fields and perched on one was Wheatear, while skirting around the base of another was a small Fox, its bright rusty orange fur highlighted by the sunlight.
Just outside the window a group of House Sparrows keep distracting me as they move into my eyeline, chirping and peering back at me through the open window!