puddleshark

A walk up through the fields at Durlston to the coast. A sea fog blowing across the meadows, blessedly cool.

The Townsend Reserve, on the edge of Swanage. The banks and ditches of the disused quarry covered in chalk-loving wild flowers.

Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis). Lots and lots of Pyramidal Orchids this year. Everywhere.

With Quaking Grass and Hedge Bedstraw.

Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum).

In the hay meadows at Durlston, the Dog Daisies and the Flax and the Yellow Rattle have already gone to seed, and the late summer flowers - the Wild Carrot and the Bristly Oxtongue - have already started to appear. Makes me wonder what, if anything, will still be in flower in late July and August for the bees to feed on?

Quite a few butterflies out despite the sea fret: Marbled Whites, Meadow Browns, Essex Skippers.

In the hedges, Whitethroats and Blackcaps singing. Above the fields, from somewhere in the fog, Skylark song.

Common Whitethoat (Sylvia communis).

Wild Carrot (Daucus carota).

Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra). The flowers lack the rays of Greater Knapweed.

Essex Skipper & Thick-legged Flower Beetle on Greater Knapweed.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee.

Flax seeds, and yellow flowers of Rough Hawksbeard & Catsear.

Nearing the sea, ribbons of fog blowing in...

Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) in the tall grass.

The Wild Clary (Salvia verbenaca) has already gone over.

I walked as far as Durlston Castle. Which isn't really a castle. It was built by a Swanage businessman in the 1880s as a tourist attraction and restaurant. These days it is a visitor centre and café. A visitor centre defended by turrets, and some lethally steep and narrow stone spiral staircases.

The café was a disappointment. The staff were very busy and rather abrupt. When I asked if they had any pastries - I had so been looking forward to a pastry - the person at the counter gestured to a fridge in the corner of the café and said, "The only cakes we've got are the ones in the fridge". And since I didn't have my specs on, and could only make out vague cakie-shaped things behind glass, nothing identifiable, I just ordered coffee. And the coffee was horrible & weak.

On the way back, I passed two women, and one was saying about the sea fog, "It is such a shame. I do hope it clears up later." And I thought, "No, it's lovely. I hope it stays like this all day."

But in the end the woman got her wish. As I headed inland, the cloud began to lift, and the sun to break through. I was Too Hot by the time I got back to the car.