Beautiful blooms line the pathway to the Observation Point; the fluffy purple Spear Thistle flowerheads which crowns stems full of thorns, and the sunny Charlock positively thick with yellow blossom.
Many of the Guillemots have now left their ledges, with the remaining birds counted in tens rather than hundreds. Nervous parents guard late-developing chicks from ever-present threat of Raven and Gull.
Many birds do still remain on the water, you can hear them trill over the soft piping from Rock Pipits. These little brown birds precariously explore the cliff edge, hopping between the rustling Grasses and Wild Carrot, humming with whirring Crickets.
The Sun beams through the cloud as we turn back East towards Durlston Head. It alights the wings passing butterfly; Marbled White, Small Heath, Meadow Brown, and Ringlet.
The slopes beyond the head draw my attention, where Old Man’s Beard clamber through stunted Blackthorn and Sycamore regrowth. Red berries stand-out upon the Wayfaring, and reflect that of the red Hypericum buds before they burst into yellow flowers.
Here, in lee of the South-westerly wind, yet more butterflies can be seen: Common Blue, Orange-Tip, and the dainty Lulworth Skipper. All enjoying the warmth gained from the morning Sun.
What appears to be a mostly green slope, turns out to be rich with wildflowers; frothy yellow flowers of Lady’s Bedstraw, scatterings of pink Common Restharrow, and inconspicuous flowering Wood Sage.
Our pace slows as we tackle the steep slope towards the Dell. Fresh blossoms upon the Buddleia, Honeysuckle, and Hemp Agrimony are sure to attract a whole host of insects, though it’s a quick flash of red which catches my eye. It quickly disappears, but was a day-flying moth for sure. Cinnabar perhaps?