What a stunning month it has been! The first Chalkhill blues have been sighted on Bindon Hill, always an exciting moment for our team. Healthy numbers of Dark Green Fritillaries, Gatekeepers, Marbled Whites, and Lulworth and Small Skippers have been witnessed.
Alongside the butterflies, Forester moths have been seen regularly on Bindon Hill, but it has been hard to tell which species of Forester we have been seeing. There are three different species and all are very similar; Forester, the Scarce Forester and Cistus Forester.
These beautiful fast-flying dainty looking moths shimmer silver-green as they pass you by.
Last month our Chalk Downland sites were impressive enough, this month we have new floral delights to enjoy; Harebells, Clustered Bellflowers, Small Scabious, Dyer’s Greenweed, Betony, Common Centaury, Goat’s-beard, Squinancywort, Greater Knapweed, Yellowort, Wild Mignonette, Agrimony, and Pyramidal Orchids.
While trying to conquer the Ragwort on Bindon Hill, we have noticed many Common Red Soldier Beetles perhaps hunting for smaller insects on the flowers of the Ragwort. These orange-red beauties are also known as ‘bloodsuckers’ because of their striking colour, but are harmless to humans.
The local Peregrine Falcon family are hunting over a wider area. Their screeches can be heard frequently at Lulworth Heritage Centre and over Stair Hole. We believe there are two or three juveniles this year.
For the flower of the month, we have chosen Dyer’s Greenweed, a member of the pea family. It often lies low to the ground, but is striking with its bright yellow flowers. This delightful plant is fast declining due to agricultural improvement and fragmentation of its habitats which include hay meadows, heaths and limestone grassland.
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