A foggy grey start to the Bank Holiday Monday, with the grass damp from the fog and footprints visible where the water has been disturbed! A Kestrel was hovering above while from the green, leaf covered Hawthorn came the call of a male Chaffinch, looking splendid in its deep buffy pink.
A fantastic glimpse of a male Yellowhammer, as he stood on the top of the Blackthorn overlooking the lighthouse, his bright yellow head poking above the spikes and he chirped. A little later two more Yellowhammers were spotted, a brilliant male and a slighter more restrained female, both on the Gorse.
A carpet of Kidney Vetch leaves covers the area near the top of the lighthouse, a few flowers already out.
The deep purple flowers of Green-winged Orchids, covering a corner of field 3a, while some more are in Hogget Mead, spotted while watching a Skylark flutter and drift in amongst them.
On one of our many miles of dry-stone wall a Wheatear perched, bobbing up and down until flitting off with a flash of white rump. Nearby Common Whitethroats were in full voice as was a Linnet.
The golden yellow bands of a Goldfinch, flashed across the sky, while a Chiffchaff called from the Wayfaring Tree nearby.
Our Durlston Beauty Apple is in bloom in the woods, the blossom a lovely mixture of pinks and whites.
Sliming over a stone stile four Lapidary Snails, the disc shaped molluscs one of the easiest to identify and because of its habitat of being on walls is also called the Wall Snail!
A blob of white frothy Cuckoo Spit was hanging from the drooping head of a Ribwort Plantain.
Through the cliff camera, while scanning the Guillemots on the upper ledge I spotted a bright blue egg, only half under its parent, the pointed end sticking out sideways. A number of other eggs will have been laid so do have a look at the pictures when in the Castle.