Durlston and Dancing Ledges – 15 April 2009

Ten members met at the Durlston Coutry Park, Swanage, on a hazy but bright morning. As we waited in the car park, Greenfinches sang from the tops of bushes and a Kestrel flew past, as did a few migrating Swallows. We set off round the Nature Trail, seeing the briliant blue flowers of Chalk Milkwort and a single spike of Early Purple Orchid among the clumps of Gorse and Blackthorn, both smothered in blooms. A Whitethroat showed itself briefly, and in a valley thicket Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs both sang. On the top of the ride we saw our first Early Spider Orchids, albeit somewhat stunted and trampled. Further on round the circuit we came to two or three fields in which management has successfully encouraged Cowslips in profusion – a wonderful sight.

After looking at the excellent Centre building and exhibition, we moved on to Langton Matravers whence we walked across fields past Spyway Barn, and down the steep steps and slope to Dancing Ledges. Here Early Spider Orchids were in profusion – we must have seen thousands. The biggest were up to six inches tall with four or five flowers, but most were much shorter. The management of these fields, with winter cattle grazing, seems to have succeeded in encouraging these very rare orchids. Strangely, the next-best site for the species in England is Samphire Hoe, the huge spoil heap created with the diggings from the Channel Tunnel! The plants were quite variable; a few seemed to lack green coloration altogether. In others, the shape of the iridescent blue mark on the brown lip varied greatly.

 Other plants included more of the Chalk Milkwort, and the dead remains of last year’s Carline Thistles. We saw one patch of Green-winged Orchids, including some white-flowered individuals in which the green wings (the side petals) were more obvious than in the normal purple-flowered plants. Along the top of the cliffs there were large yellow-flowered plants of Sea Cabbage, the wild ancestor of all our brassica crops – kale, cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, broccoli, kohl rabi. Field Madder, with tiny pink flowers, grew in the bare soil by the steps.

Birds were a bit thin on the ground. Skylarks sang overhead and Rock Pipits performed their display flights at the tops of the cliffs. Guillemots were frequent on the sea and some flew in towards the cliffs as if nesting there. The Puffins eluded us; apparently they are more easily seen in the evenings, and also a bit later in the year when they are feeding young.  Further up the slope, a flock of Goldfinches fed on teazels.

With rain threatening, we struggled back up the steep slope and back across the fields to the cars, and much-needed tea!