Last year was the first time Ian and I had visited Durlston in April, prior to that we had always gone in June. However with the success last year of the Early Spider Orchids and good views of the Puffins at Dancing Ledge, we decided to visit again in April.
We picked a good day, getting out in the car park there was hardly any wind and clear blue skies. Walking down towards the lighthouse the sea and cliffs looked a picture.
We could hear distant Blackcaps and Chiffchaff singing, but it was the Whitethroats that seemed to be every where around the valley.
A Meadow Pipit was feeding on the grass around the Lighthouse.
We heard Cirl Bunting singing but were not able to find the bird. This was a bit of a surprise for us although I was aware they were here but had forgotten all about them. Two pairs were present as the eastern push along the coast continues.
Before walking to Dancing Ledge we searched the field next to the Lighthouse for the orchids. There were one or two Early Spider Orchids, but it looked like they had been out for awhile.
The field though was full of the Early Green-winged Orchids. They appeared a little stunted which maybe due to the lack of rain we have had over the last few weeks.
These are one of the earliest orchids to appear and as we walked around the field we found many, although they all were quite short with the flowers bunched together.
When the sun is out here, the sea is a deep blue and on the cliff path can provide a lovely background. This was definitely the case with this Whitethroat singing on the bramble.
This background was the sky as the Whitethroat moved to a bush on th ewall of the field.
The slopes above the cliff path were covered in gorse in bloom.
There were then one or two surprises, first the years first Dingy Skipper.
And three Red Deer on the cliff slopes.
We also didn't expect to see this Oystercatcher on one of the cliff ledges.
A Yellowhammer singing in the bushes didn't seem to be bothered by our close presence, It was belting out its "Little bit of cheese" song with the head thrown back.
I was able to walk past it without it moving at all.
A pair of Peregrine were seen just above the the top of the cliffs. We continued to hear them calling as we walked but never had a clear view.
The first view of Dancing Ledge. The skies were even bluer now.
A Rock Pipit sat nicely on a fence post.
As we got close to Dancing Ledge there was a large flock of House Sparrows. There is a colony that breed in the caves around the quarry.
We settled down to watch the auks on the water and to search for the Puffins. However a Grey Seal below us was worthy of attention. It had caught a fish and was looking to eat it.
From this view the fish was a Gar Fish, a long thin fish with quite a large mouth.
A Guillemot applying the air brakes as it flies up to the cliff face.
The bird we had come for, the Puffin. This is the most easterly position to see Puffins along the south coast. Unfortunately the colony has shrunk over the years and now is only around three pairs. We only saw three together.
A pair of Razorbill on the cliff ledge.
And one dropped to the sea below us.
Looking east along the cliffs.
Dancing Ledge is sheltered from the north and easterly winds and this morning was an excellent sun trap. The recent fine weather was probably the reason the Thrift is starting to flower.
We searched the quarry for butterflies but only managed to find this beautiful Wall Lizard.
The lizard is technically a non-native species having been introduced or escaped into the wild. They can be found at a number of south coast sites. The last time I saw one was on the Isle of Wight at Ventnor.
It crept around the limestone rocks and wasn't too bothered with our presence.
Love this one, a low down view of this mini dinosaur.
Before heading back to Durlston we went up to the fields above the cliffs where there was a great show of Early Spider Orchids. There is considerable variation in the markings on the petals.
Lovely to see and you had to be careful where you stepped as the orchids were everywhere.
They are called "spider" orchids because the marking on the petals resemble the markings on the abdomen of spiders.
We pulled ourselves away from the orchids and started the walk back to Durlston. We were leaving some beautiful views behind us. A final view of Dancing Ledge, we may come back in June who knows.
Stonechat are always a welcome sight at this time of year, the males looking splendid.
There was also another Dingy Skipper on the path.
Wonderful views of the cliff slopes with the blue sky and yellow blooms of the gorse.
As we approached the lighthouse at Durlston a surprise. A Wall Brown on the path. Maybe we shouldn't have been surprised, I just wish it was as easy to see them in Hampshire.
A little further along a Dotted Bee-Fly.
From the lighthouse a wonderful view of the western tip of the Isle of Wight, with obligatory sailing yacht and cloud.
We walked along the cliff path to view the auk colony, both Guillemot and Razorbill nest on the ledges along with Fulmar and Shags. You look down and can get some interesting views. This Shag flying towards the rocks and contrasting with the dark green colour of the sea below it.
And it is always hard to ignore the Fulmar as they soar around the cliff tops. Today though they were having to flap a lot due to the lack of any significant wind.
We were advised that to see the Cirl Bunting was to go to the hide near the Learning Centre. It looks over a small pond and the birds come to bathe and drink. We settled in with lunch to watch. First up was a Jay.
We then had Greenfinch and Goldfinch and we joked that next would be a Chaffinch as we work our way through the finches. The Chaffinch duly arrived and was then followed by a smart male Bullfinch.
The hide though saved the best to last with the Cirl Buntings finally turning up. A male and female they kept distant but we were pleased we had finally seen them.
The heat haze didn't help with the photography. The male was constantly calling
It moved to the bushes to the left of us, still not the best views.
When the Cirl Bunting left we decided to head back home to ensure we didn't get mixed up in the holiday traffic. A great day which delivered everything we came for with a little bit more. It is a wonderful place.
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