Widget

 This is Widget. He's the Durlston Country Park resident dog, belonging to head ranger Katie. I've not got much to say this post, but these pictures were too sweet not to use!

Widget generally comes out on wednesday work parties with the volunteers at the country park, if it's safe to do so. Obviously, if we're working along the road or cutting down things that are likely to fall, he's not around. Ragwort pulling I think perhaps is one of Widget's favourite work party activities, as there are lots of people always walking round a big field, and plenty of opportunities to run around, chase deer if there are any (once he absolutely belted it after a roe deer that was in one of the lower fields, and it took a good five minutes for him to come back, unsuccessful of course). 

He loves fetching sticks and generally messing about, although he's fairly old now, so doesn't have quite the same energy levels as a younger dog! He'll still put up a fight if you try and take away his stick though. His favourite thing is eating leftover icecream from visitors to the castle, and he can get quite fat during the summer months...

Marbled white butterflies

Marbled white butterflies are one of my favourite things to see during the summer season. Of course, it now being October, there aren't any about any more- but I'm very behind on writing posts! 

Widespread in the south of England, their major distribution reaches up to about the midlands. Here in Dorset, they're one of the most common butterflies I see, especially up at Durlston, where there's loads of unimproved grassland, their favourite habitat. Walking through the fields on a Ragwort picking mission, you can stir up tens of them during the peak warm season, which is quite a sight to see!

Unfortunately I don't have very many good pictures at all, as butterflies are tricky to take pictures of. They just don't like staying still! This one was a bit crumpled from being caught in a spider's web, so it was having a rest on a stalk before attempting flight.

 

A look at UKbutterflies.co.uk rewards some more specific species information, with subspecies and the like. I'm not that good at identifying between male and female, so the one in the photos above will remain a mystery unless someone knows! I'd give a stab at saying it was a male though, as it's got a more greeny underside than reddish, which a female would have.