The morning rain dissipates just as I arrive at Durlston. The park is left scattered with puddles and damp grass in its wake. Dark grey clouds continue move in from the West, and you can see the thick downpours continuing to fall out above the sea.
The damp conditions lend a certain vibrancy to the hues of wildflowers in the Meadows; particularly the deep purple tones of Tufted Vetch and Greater Knapweed, the blueish Field Scabious and magenta Red Clover.
Also distinct, the bright red-chested Bullfinch. Nothing new there, but I was pleasantly surprised to see two males together; one following the other towards the Warden’s Cottage.
Ox-Eye Daisies have begun to fade, and replaced by an abundance of Wild Carrot. Beautiful pink patches of Common Restharrow and smaller spots of Wild Thyme. Emergent Agrimony, Ragwort and Bristly Ox-Tongue adding yellows to the mosaic of colour.
Further into the Meadows, the Skylark song grows in intensity, as does the abundance of ‘wheezing’ Greenfinch.
A break in the cloud. Sunlight shines through as I approach our herd of Hereford Cattle. A couple calves playfully butt heads asserting dominance with one another, before sheepishly scampering off upon realising my approach.
Tall stands of Woolly Thistle and scrub remain between swathes of grazed grass. Dog Rose and Bramble now in flower, attracting various insects including a passing brown butterfly; a Speckled Wood? Meadow Brown? or even Ringlet perhaps.
Goldfinch flock amongst a small copse of Hawthorn: thickened with Old Man’s Beard. I step slowly under the cover, listening to Blue Tits and Great Tits. Silhouetted against the light, a Chiffchaff sits silently on one of the higher branches, identified by its eye streak. A couple of Meadow Pipit flash their mottled brown and white undersides as they pass close overhead.