Dorset - Here There and Everywhere!

 

As a new season begins in the Dorset Premier League and with the Dorset Leagues starting at the beginning of September ornithology is pushed onto the subs bench just as the autumn migration begins to gain momentum. The reduced time available between training and football fixtures means there is some time juggling resulting in short forays into the field sometimes on news or tip offs from my birding pals.

The most interesting being the visit of Little Stint to the Meadow Pool at Abbotsbury Swannery. The pool also featured Dunlin giving an ideal size comparison between both species.

I have also chased the White Winged Black Tern around Weymouth and The Fleet without success I might add! I did catch up with the white headed Ruff at Lodmoor which is my first Dorset VC9 bird having seen this species earlier in the year at Stanpit Marsh. I failed to connect with the Spotted Crake after some tactical visits to the post-box pool.

I have done some migrant hunting of my own the best was a Yellow Wagtail at Waddock Cross Cress beds. I hope to cover several cress farms in search of a VC9 Water Pipit as the winter closes in.

I have been inspired by Pete Alfrey’s knowledge and the haul of moths he had in my garden. He also named all the plants on the Garden wall and offered advice on how to get the best from my garden. This could even result in the purchase of a moth trap! I think the above is a Drone-fly?!

I even spied a Jersey Tiger flying onto the wall one lunch-time!

A Brimstone was observed feeding near the garden wall.

The Buddlea bushes have attracted up to forty Small Tortoiseshell on the white flowered plant.

A couple of Red Admiral a Peacock, what I thought was a tatty Comma (No pic) also visited the bush during a tidy up in the garden.

A Small White was also photographed on the same bush. 

I am paying more attention to the insects that visit the garden and will post more pictures. I’m sure there will be id errors along the way but that’s all part of the process!

Dorset - Abbotsbury Swannery - Low Tern Out!

 

I took a pre match jaunt to Abbotsbury Swannery yesterday morning staking out the tern/gull rails. There wasn’t much to report in the couple of hours I was there. Terns were very thin on the ground with singles of Sandwich and Common Tern.

A single Mediterranean Gull spent some time preening on one of the rails.

The Swans were numerous attracting the attention of the day trippers. Just prior to feeding time a Black Swan honed into view completing a couple of circuits before joining a couple of stray Mutes on The Fleet. This bird’s arrival bought back fond memories of lakes covered in wild birds in Australia. This species is the state emblem of Western Australia featuring on the coat of arms as well as appearing on stamps.

The afternoon was spent officiating at Bridport FC in the Dorset Premier League!

Dorset - Puddletown - Garden Mothing!

Pete wasted no time in setting up the moth trap in my garden and I was curious as to what would be drawn in by the light. The street lights also go off during the night which would assist in pulling in any moths in the area.

Each species of moth was photographed the next morning and released. I quickly realized the benefit of having a seasoned moth man at the helm. I can’t imagine how long it would have taken to identify everything from scratch!

Over the three days one migrant was lured into the trap a Silver Y.

A Magpie was the most interesting moth of the first nights haul.

A Yellow Barred Brindle was found on the wall.

A total of 24 species were photographed with one that got away! I will add them all to my moth page in due course. the pictures I have picked out are moths that caught my eye and not necessarily for rarity value.

 

 Early Thorn.

Thanks Pete for doing all the donkey work!

Devon - Seaton Wetlands - A Few Woods!

The Alfrey clan (Pete, Holly and Jacob) have been staying at my home. Pete is an all round Naturalist and birding pal. There were various activities on the agenda, birding, moths, dragonflies, cream teas and tourist stuff!

The first day began with Pete sorting out the moths in the trap (another post to follow). We then all piled into the mobile observatory and crossed the border into Devon meeting up with Jaffa (we all have nicknames) at Seaton Wetlands. After a brew and a flapjack made our way onto the wetlands which has a couple of excellent hides overlooking the wetlands and the Axe Estuary.

Bird(s) of the day were a few Wood Sandpiper that were feeding on the wetlands, Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank, Blackwits, Redshank and an Oystercatcher made up the shorebird total. Gulls were well represented on the Axe Estuary but no Yellow legged Gull!

A Marsh Harrier made infrequent fly pasts to ruffle the feathers below! The cream head and the fresh feathering with no signs of moult through the primaries and secondaries suggested a juvenile bird.

A visit to Colyford Tram Station resulted in cream teas all round with a few bonus wasps thrown into the mix! Jaffa then took us to a spot where White Legged damselfly was present.

This was a new damselfly for my list with both male and immature/females showing.

The evening was spent at the Blue Vinny and some excellent dining!

Dorset - Lychett Fields RSPB - Curlew Sandpiper Dot Shot!

 

A Curlew Sandpiper was spending its second day at Lychett Fields RSPB. The plan was to train in the morning and wait for the evening high tide to bag the bird! The plan worked but it took a while of searching before I located the bird feeding in the channels between the growing number of Blackwits and gulls. I got Garry onto the bird before it took a further back seat almost out of camera range.

A Whimbrel was a bit more obliging parading itself within reasonable distance of my 300mm lens!

I waited until the tide had come in before leaving for the short journey home but before I left I located an adult Yellow Legged Gull which loafed around before flying to the back of the marsh! This bird has been reported as a possible hybrid x Herring. Back to the photos!

Tomorrow it’s time to witness some history Sutton Utd play their first game in EFL League Two away to Forest Green Rovers which incidentally is not too far from my new home! I never thought I would witness this in my lifetime. I could find a Dodo tomorrow and it would not match the excitement I feel in anticipation of the game and season ahead!