The River Piddle rises next to the church in Alton Pancras and runs through several villages one was originally known as Piddletown until the Victorians re named the village to Puddletown. Incidentally the former name of the village was still cited into the 1950’s. The river runs south and then south east running parallel to the larger River Frome. Both enter Poole Harbour via the Wareham Channel.
The Piddle is currently in flood which is presenting the local birdlife opportunities to congregate in areas that are not available in the summer months. I have been keeping a close eye on bird numbers and took another journey along the River course:-
Athelhampton had the highest concentration of birds with Little Egret and Canada Geese amongst the numerous corvids and pheasant in the flooded fields. A male Kestrel was suitably positioned on the wires to catch any struggling mammals! Mallard were the only duck I could find and a lone Herring represented the Gulls.
Burleston held the highest number of Little Egret with a Mute Swan, Collared Dove a Song Thrush and a band of House Sparrow adding to the days tally.
Tolpuddle featured a small flock of Fieldfare and Starling. The corvids were again well represented. There was a small flock of Black Headed Gull, with a couple of Common Gull amongst them. A Buzzard kept a watchfull eye overhead.
I was escorted through Affpuddle by a hedge and scrub hopping male Bullfinch. I then made my way up to The Watercress Company where the fields were once again loaded with Egrets. I parked up and my phone buzzed which had me heading for my final destination Silverlake (Warmwell Gravel Pits) slightly earlier than planned!
On arrival I started looking along the East side and quickly located a few White-fronted Geese that were with Canada’s along one of the spits. Most of the birds I saw were adults but I could see other heads suggesting there were more birds on the other side of the spit. I had good scope views (left hand birds, Canada's right and Greylag on the water). I turned my attentions to getting pictures which was a tad tricky at this range with a 300mm lens!
As it turned out moving position would not have secured better views as the birds flew off North over the pines and quickly out of sight. A quick update and I was off checking the fields doing a loop through Moreton and Crossways. I did not re-locate the Whitefronts but there were plenty of areas they could have dropped into along the way.
I later caught up with Brett at the top of the woods as we both staked the pits out on the off chance the birds would return to roost on the site! In the mean time good numbers of Goosander and a few Pintail were spied on the East pit. The Long tailed Duck was still present by the causeway!
Thanks Brett for the tip off. I would have surely have missed them if I had continued on my schedule!
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