The annual coach trip on Saturday 4 May was to Durlston National Nature Reserve near Swanage in Dorset. It was a day of bright sunshine but with a cold wind. As the coach drove from Wareham to Swanage, Alan Parfitt explained how the route was travelling back in time – first the Tertiary sands of the Dorset heaths, then the Chalk ridge which runs through Corfe, then Wealden marls, then the Purbeck Beds and finally the Portland Beds. The day’s walk started from the Visitor Centre along the cliff-top Coastal Path. There were fine views across to the Isle of Wight and a Peregrine flew past. Fulmars flew below on stiff wings and rafts of Guillemots with a few Razorbills swam on the sea below. Further along the cliffs, it was possible to look back over the Guillemot nesting ledges, where there were also a few Shags. On the other side of the path, Rock Samphire and Wild Madder were noted, Whitethroats were singing and there were a number of Wall butterflies. The path led steeply down a rocky stretch near Tilly Whim caves. A Rock Pipit flitted round a rocky platform, there were several Stonechats flying around the gulley below the lighthouse and clumps of Thrift and Sea Campion cushioned the cliffs. A number of the hairy Caterpillars of the Brown-tail moth were crawling across the short turf of the Lighthouse Green. A few Early Spider-orchids were found here, but they were mostly past their best. The walk continued into the first field beyond the lighthouse. More Early Spider-orchids were found here, and a few still showed the glossy brown spider markings. Other flowers found here included Green-winged Orchid, Horseshoe Vetch, Yellow-wort, Dwarf Thistle, Wild Clary, Pale Flax and both blue and pink Milkwort. After much discussion, it was decided that both Common and Chalk Milkwort were present. Lunch was consumed in the sunshine and out of the wind, in the shelter of a rocky ridge. A Gannet flew past out to sea. Continuing over the ridge, there was a fine display of Cowslips and Early-purple Orchids. Heading further west, the next steep field above the Coastal Path had good numbers of Green-winged Orchids. Small-leaved Buttercup was found in cattle-poached areas and near a water trough. Returning along the top path towards the Visitor Centre, a number of Lesser Whitethroats were heard and a Small Copper butterfly was seen. A second group of members walked a shorter route. They explored the Saxon Field, where there were more Cowslips and Early-purple Orchids, and a small quarry had a good display of Early Spider-orchids, with many still fully in flower.
Durlston NNR 
Razorbills 
Wall Brown 
Thrift 
Early Spider-orchid 
Green-winged Orchid
Pictures by Fiona Brown, Ian Esland and John Lerpiniere
| RDNHS Coach trip to Durlston National Nature Reserve, 4.5.2019 | |
| Plant species | |
| English names | Scientific names |
| Wood Sage | Teucrium scorodonia |
| Hart’s-tongue | Asplenium scolopendrium |
| Traveller’s-joy | Clematis vitalba |
| Herb-Robert | Geranium robertianum |
| Wayfaring-tree | Viburnum lantana |
| Red Valerian | Centranthus ruber |
| Tamarisk | Tamarix anglica |
| Rock Samphire | Crithmum maritimum |
| Stinking Iris | Iris foetidissima |
| Bristly Oxtongue | Helminthotheca echioides |
| Smooth Sow-thistle | Sonchus oleraceus |
| Thrift | Armeria maritima |
| Wild Madder | Rubia peregrina |
| Hoary Mustard | Hirschfeldia incana |
| Salad Burnet | Poterium sanguisorba |
| Common Mallow | Malva sylvestris |
| Horshoe Vetch | Hippocrepis comosa |
| Mouse-ear Hawkweed | Pilosella officinarum |
| Gorse | Ulex europaeus |
| Teasel | Dipsacus fullonum |
| Sea Beet | Beta vulgaris |
| Buck’s-horn Plantain | Plantago coronopus |
| Sea Carrot | Daucus carota ssp. gummifer |
| Ribwort Plantain | Plantago lanceolata |
| Weld | Reseda luteola |
| Sea Campion | Silene uniflora |
| Common Milkwort | Polygala vulgaris |
| Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil | Lotus corniculatus |
| Cowslip | Primula veris |
| Crosswort | Cruciata laevipes |
| Germander Speedwell | Veronica chamaedrys |
| Carline Thistle | Carlina vulgaris |
| Early Spider-orchid | Ophrys sphegodes |
| Green-winged Orchid | Anacamptis morio |
| Early-purple Orchid | Orchis mascula |
| Hoary Plantain | Plantago media |
| Wild Clary | Salvia verbenaca |
| Eyebright | Euphrasia spec. |
| Yellow-rattle | Rhinanthus minor |
| Common Centaury | Centaurium erythraea |
| Dwarf Thistle | Cirsium acaule |
| Greater Knapweed | Centaurea scabiosa |
| Pale Flax | Linum bienne |
| Common Vetch | Vicia sativa |
| Bulbous Buttercup | Ranunculus bulbosus |
| Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill | Geranium dissectum |
| Bird species | |
| Peregrine | Falco peregrinus |
| Razorbill | Alca torda |
| Guillemot | Uria aalge |
| Skylark | Alouda arvensis |
| Butterfly species | |
| Wall Brown | Lasiommata megera |
| Small Copper | Lycaena phlaeas |
List by Renée Grayer