Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows - Whitefronts on the Meadows!

The festive season has paled into insignificance as news of my mum’s hospitalization an hour spent with her on Xmas day could be the last time we are in company as covid-19 has now reached the ward! Life at the moment is a complete blur but it is important to remain focused and motivated as life goes on even in difficult times!

Last year on Xmas day I found a White Fronted Goose on what I guess I can now call my local patch Puddletown Water Meadows. I have recorded 81 species on the meadows with 90 species along the River Piddle Valley. As soon as the gates are raised and the fields flood it is time to keep an eye on the area as wildfowl pile into the area.

This afternoon I noticed higher numbers of Canada (243) and Greylag (13) Geese on the meadows. The regular Egyptian Geese were notably absent! The rain was chucking it down but as I scanned the geese beyond a tree line I locked on to a couple of Whitefronts that were not photographable and were tricky too get good views of.

After changing position several times I moved further down the road to view the open fields from the road-side. The geese were now moving closer and I put the camera to work. I put news out and contacted Peter Coe who joined me to secure better shots of the birds.

There were three adults with heavy black barring under the belly and possibly a younger adult with less obvious barring (above left)

The above picture shows all four birds that were feeding amongst the masses of Canada Geese.

There seems to be a mini influx of this species in Dorset with birds present at Charminster Water Meadows and Hampreston Church in the fields behind Longham Lakes.