Glasgow, where my daughter lives, was quite cool and often 'damp' and windy, and further north into the mountains it was decidedly wet. The birds and animals seemed to be coping, though I am sure some nests were not nice warm comfy places. Insects and butterflies looked to be as thinly spread about as they are round here. If anything, Dorset has not done very well for weather, and I get reports of more activity and breeding success from the London area than I see here for myself.

Got back in time to go on the annual nightjar trip round Corfe Hills, and the nightjars seemed to be calling in reasonable numbers, but not many moths were flying and calling was as far as it got. If there is a nice warm summer evening soon, I will go back in hopes of seeing a good number flying.

Reports of buzzards nesting in the Local Nature Reserve this Spring. They have moved on now, but there has to be a good buzzard population in the area now. A friend of mine saw one flying over the golf course with a sizeable snake in its talons.

Butterflies have been scarce, partly due to weather and partly due to breeding cycles. Only species to be noticeable are those pretty white ones that produce cabbage eating caterpillars. But with some warmth and sun the second broods will start to appear, and will hopefully do better than last year, when old familiars like red admirals and peacocks were in short supply all over Dorset.

Still lots of varied activities to be found in Dorset Coast and Countryside magazine. Telephone 01305 225037 for a free copy in the post.

Local walk by BoP is round Coy Pond (13th June, 7.00PM)

Further afield you can learn about flowers, butterflies, bats, nightjars and our Heritage Coast and its inhabitants. There are still a couple of coastal boat trips, (01202 558550), and I particularly noticed an 'Orchid Extravaganza' at Durlston on 12th June.

Useful numbers:

Other useful wildlife web sites for wildlife news in this area are:

• http://www.greenlink.co.uk/
• http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/dorset
• http://www.dorsetbutterflies.com

Prepared for Broadstone.net by
dudley.hull

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