A beautifully warm afternoon in lovely surroundings.
| We had left early and, encountering little traffic for once, aproached Corfe in plenty of time so decided to make an unscheduled stop at Hartland Moor. One or two lizards were seen or heard scuttling around in the heather but the highlight was a pair of Four-spotted Chasers, on the wing a month earlier than usual. We also saw several very smart Sika Deer, a bright male Brimstone butterfly and several Holly Blues. |
© Bob Ford/Nature Portfolio
Four-spotted Chaser |
| Reaching Durlston we set out for the favourite wild flower meadow (there are lots here!) and straight away found several Early Spider Orchids. Common and Lesser Whitethroats were singing all around us and we had an unusually close view of a Willow Warbler. In the next field were some very bright Early Purple Orchids and a patch of Green-winged Orchids. | |
© Bob Ford/Nature Portfolio
Early Spider Orchid |
© Bob Ford/Nature Portfolio
Early Purple Orchids |
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Leaving the meadows we walked out onto the ridge overlooking the sea to a chorus of yet more Whitethroats, this time joined by a Blackcap, a Green Woodpecker and a Sedge Warbler - all heard but not seen.
More interesting plants were found including Woolly Thistles (not Cotton Thistles as I said at the time!) and some ferns that were probably Male Ferns.
Reaching the car park we still had more to see as the verges held a wide variety of dwarf species including Chickweed, Spotted Medick and the rare Small-flowered Buttercup. |
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