Despite starting early, the temperature was above my preferred threshold!
Past the delicately smelling Mock Orange, Honeysuckle and Fuschia to the cliffs, where the sea was sparkling a gorgeous blue, paddling on the surface lots of Guillemots, the sound of their growling and gargling waft up towards me, as was that of the flapping as they turned over as they washed, and the pitter patter of webbed feet as they took off.
On an outcrop two Raven stood peering down, hopefully these large black corvids were not after the small Guillemots chicks which are still on the ledges, bring sheltered and fed by their parents. Looking at the images on the camera, it appears there are gaps where a couple of the older chicks were, so hopefully they left yesterday evening for the open sea.
Alongside the path, small dull brown butterflies were in flight, the se Lulworth Skippers, on closer inspection have a golden crescent on the wings. Brighter and slightly bigger was the Small Skipper, whilst the black and white Marbled White and two-tone brown Meadow Brown also in flight.
On one of the many pink and white umbels of the Wild Carrots was a Soldier Beetle, while a Six-spot Burnet Moth fluttered past – both my firsts for the year.
Dashing across the path was Weasel, looking like a furry running sausage with short tail!
On the rocks the brilliant splash of yellow of the Biting Stonecrop, while Wild Thyme is giving a thick carpet in place. Common Mallow and Red Valerian flowering alongside.
A wonderful display of the Yellow-wort and Centaury, both have shiny petals – yellow and pink respectively.
The sound of a Common Whitethroat coming from the patch of spiky Gorse, and a good view of a Chiffchaff in the shade of the Field Maple.
Above the gully a magnificent Kestrel, hovering for a moment before swooping then returning to hover again.