With the glorious sound of Skylarks descending from the blue sky, another wonderful early morning for a patrol around Durlston.
As I passed a spiky blossom laden Hawthorn bush, the loud song of a Blackcap erupted, the grey male bird perched on small twig, singly long and loud – fantastic opportunity for a really close up view.
Wandering down towards the lighthouse more songs filled the air including the scratchy call of a Common Whitethroat, tinkling of Goldfinches, twitter of Linnets, and quick-quick-slow song of a Chaffinch, behind all of this the constant chiff-chaff of a Chiffchaff and the cackle of Jackdaws.
Splashes of large white flowers amongst the hedges from Dog Rose and Elder to Burnet Rose and Mock Orange.
Growing low to the ground a carpet of yellow Horseshoe Vetch producing a lovely scent, flitting above the dazzling turquoise of an Adonis Blue butterfly, which disturbed a dark brown female which was perch on the flower. The more purple-blue Common Blues and the silvery Small Blues also fluttering in the sheltered old quarry hollow.
A flash of orange and a Large Skipper landed on the Cocksfoot grass, while Small Skipper, Lulworth Skipper and Dingy Skipper also spotted.
Up on the downs a Yellowhammer perched perfectly on the top of a Blackthorn bush, the brilliant yellow head of the male catching the sun, while nearby a female was searching – hopefully for food for its young.
A sudden whirring of wings as two Red-legged Partridges exploded from the grass while from the gully the call of a Pheasant.
Pea flowers galore, with Common Vetch, Kidney Vetch, Dyer’s Greenweed, Black Medic, Yellow Vetchling and the most delicate of all the cerise coloured Grass Vetchling.
On the cliffs young Guillemots can now be spotted as they start to wriggle and move under the parent.