Dorset Delights

We've had  a beautiful day for our annual May visit to the  Dorset coast. 
Seven of us from our local RSPB group met at Worth Matravers, and then walked down the Winspit valley to the cliff top, before walking  eastwards along the clifftop  path  to Dancing Ledge ( main  photo ), and then returning  inland along Seacombe valley. In the scrubby vegetation of the valleys we heard and saw a variety of bird species including Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Stonechats  and Chiffchaffs, while  on the clifftops there  were Swallows. Skylarks, and  Meadow and Rock Pipits. On the sea were Black headeded, Black backed, and  Herring Gulls, plus Guillemots and a few Gannets fishing .We were surprised  to see a Brent goose fly by as these normally are only here in the  winter.
Finally, we saw a solitary Puffin, bobbing on the sea, and then flying towards the  cliffs at Dancing Ledge. Over the years the  small colony  of Puffins there has  been diminishing, and last year no young were successfully raised. Early this year cameras were installed to monitor  the site, to see if a lack of fish or predation by gulls or rats could be the  problem. (So far  only one Puffin has been  reported  this this year, so obviously at least one more Puffin is needed for any breeding to be attempted).
At least we did see a Puffin, and we did have a cracking  day  with the  lovely  weather. 
While mostly  concerned with the  birdlife, we also saw several lizards and  some interesting  plants, including Ivy  Broomrape ( a parasitic plant) and Bee Orchid (see extras.).

Afterwards, M and I went to Swanage to join our friends L and  P at their  flat, for supper, L having joined us on the walk.