BC Walk at Durlston Country Park

Two golden brown and brown butterflies on a plant flower head
Two Lulworth Skippers. Photo: Brian Arnold

Brian Arnold writes: I led the Durlston Guided Walk for butterflies on 7th July for Dorset Butterfly Conservation. We had a good turnout with 15 people including me and my wife Lerida. This included 2 who travelled from Somerset, plus 2 from North Wales who were here on holiday in Swanage.

Despite a dry mostly sunny forecast we started in very dull cloudy weather. I split the walk between the Flower Meadows and the coastal area, so we started with the meadows. Most of the butterflies were down in the grass, but we had a few sightings of Meadow Browns, Ringlets, Marbled Whites, Gate Keepers, and Small Skippers plus a single Red Admiral and single Small Heath. There are many Pyramidal Orchids in flower, plus Scabious, Knapweed, Wild Carrot, Wild Parsnip, Brambles, Thistles etc, and had the sun appeared we would have seen far more butterflies.

We then moved on the to upper coast path where we passed lots of Thistles Wild Thyme and other wild flowers. The weather started to improve and eventually became quite hot and sunny. We managed to identify a couple of Essex Skippers. My eyesight is not good enough to be able to tell them from Small Skipper, so we photographed several Skippers from the side and below, then looked at the photos.

A golden brown butterfly on a green leaf

Essex Skipper. Photo: Brian Arnold

From here we went down the steep slope towards the light house. On the way down the slope there is Tor Grass so we looked for Lulworth Skippers and found several – both male and female. We also saw a single Common Blue. We continued up the road from the lighthouse then down by the “Mile Markers” which were put there for ships to measure/navigate distance along the coast. At the bottom of the slope we found a fresh looking 2nd brood female Small Blue, but were suddenly interupted when one of our group spotted several Dolphins out in the sea. Everything stopped whilst we watched them swimming and sometimes popping up out of the water.

Two dolpins and a boat seen from the walk

Dolpins seen from the walk. Photo: Sue East

Rounding the bend at the bottom mile marker we went to look for Small Blues at a spot close to the Tilly Whym quarry where we often see them, and yes there was a male Small Blue. We then continued eastwards along the bottom coast path, seeing a mating pair of Lulworth Skipper, and Large White, Wall Brown, Small White, plus singles of Grayling and Comma, Then back to Durlston Castle for the end of the walk.

A dark blue butterfly with white fringe to the wings on a green leaf

Small Blue (male). Photo: Brian Arnold

In total we saw 15 species – in order of: Ringlet, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Marbled White, Small Heath, Essex Skipper, Common Blue, Large White, Small Blue, Wall Brown, Small White, Grayling and Comma.

On Durlston Country Park BC Walk. Photo: Brian Arnold

 

Editor’s Note:  My thanks to Brian for leading this most interesting walk and for writing this report of it for us.

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