Heaths and coast...

Our first and only full day of holiday! We decided to leave Ben and Alex to sleep, while the keenies among us went out for an early morning visit to Slepe Heath. This is located just north of Hartland Moor NNR, and is an area of former forestry plantation which has been very successfully restored to heathland, and must have one of the highest concentrations of Dartford warbler in Britain (see extra). 

We returned home for a late breakfast and then all went for a long trek round Studland NNR, in the hope of finding some basking sand lizards. I think we were just a bit too early, because although it was sunny, and felt quite warm in areas sheltered from the north wind, we didn't see a single reptile. Nevertheless, we had a good time , enjoying views across the vivid turquoise sea towards Bournemouth and Poole (see extra). 

I really liked the area of willow carr surrounding the outflows from the Little Sea. The water was flowing quite fast, supporting waving beds of Bog Pondweed and Floating Club-rush (see extra), and in more sheltered spots there were patches of Marsh St.John's-wort emerging from the water.

After about three hours of trekking we decided it was time for a change of pace, so drove into Studland village and had a quick pint at the pub. We then walked down to Studland South beach for a snack, and were excited to see a small group of Mediterranean gulls in the sea. There was a pair showing courtship behavious, another adult and a juvenile. It's the first time I've ever seen this species, which is now well established along the south coast, and breeds on Brownsea Island and at Radipole Lake. They are stunning birds when in full breeding plumage, and a fine addition to the British fauna.