A glorious early morning to be up at Durlston, the sea twinkling blue, barely any ripples on the surface, except those caused by the hundred or so Guillemots which were bobbing about, a mass of dark brown and white, turning washing and preening. Amongst them the odd jet black Razorbill.
My eye was drawn by something white on the cliff top, I had to do a double and then treble take as standing there, whistling gently were two Shelducks – not what I expected at all, I ‘ve only ever seen them pass was out to sea. These large ducks with bright orangey-brown and black marking and bright beaks are quite stunning.
A Rock Pipit performed its ‘umbrella’ flight, fluttering up then dropping down, calling as it did so.
Flowers coming out all over, with Kidney Vetch, Thrift and Horseshoe Vetch just beginning, while the brilliant blue of low growing Chalk Milkwort is getting towards its peak.
The mottled-pink umbel of a Wild Carrot, the carrot fronds underneath showing well, as a Wall Brown butterfly flitted around it. A Dingy Skipper, as Small Heath and a Holly Blue butterfly also spotted in the early sunny warmth.
The purple flowers of the Bugle attracting bees (couldn’t tell the species), while Ivy-Leaved Toadflax rambles over some walls, Ground Ivy carpets some areas under the Nettle, while Common Field Speedwell waited for more sunshine before opening up its petals.
A few Swallows continuing to arrive from the continent, while Common Whitethroats having decided to stay here for the summer were ‘scratching’ from the tops of the bushes and trees, the feathers of their white throat puffing out as they sang.
Also heard Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird and Yellowhammer.
Last night as dusk fell many Pipistrelle Bats were active, out searching for food.