Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows - Eleven Red Kite in Two Weeks!

I have expanded my range within the village having been told of a couple of areas which have horse paddocks that may be worth checking for wheatear, Redstart or even a Ring Ouzel. No luck so far but the migration season is in its early stages.

The greatest success of the year so far has been the recent influx of Red Kite that have passed over Puddletown Water Meadows. Eleven birds have been noted since the 17^th March 2022 with only a single record before that on the 4^th Jan 2022.

I have managed to photograph each bird using a Nikon d7100 with a Nikon AF-S 300mm fixed lens. This does produce a varying degree of results dependent on the height and proximity of each bird. 

Red Kite has three plumages, Juvenile, Second plumage and adult. The general features are as follows:

Juvenile – Overall a more compact bird, broader wings, shorter tail with slight fork, brighter overall colour. Head white without streaking. The underwing is a lighter rufous colour than in adults.

Second – Usually identified from adults by retained juvenile feathers that are narrower and more pointed. A dark sub-terminal tail band is present.

Adult – Long narrow wings, long slim tail with deep fork. Rufous parts are much darker than in juveniles and breast has dark thick streaking.

Ref: Flight identification of Raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East by Dick Forsman

On 31^st a single bird:

At 1700 drifted in low overhead from the SW lingered over the meadows before departing E. The dark subterminal tail band is present. Some dark streaking on the breast. Some wear in outer primaries rounded feathers. This bird was looking to hunt prior to departing.

On 30^th single bird:

At 1153 a single bird was picked up south of Athelhampton Road flying high W over Puddletown. This bird appeared to be migrating.

On 28^th three birds.

First bird 

Second Bird

At 1030 two birds together the first bird swooping down in the direction of the second bird before both flew off together E. 

First bird shows brown streaking with long tail with deep fork. Second bird shows short primaries on left wing. Possible sub terminal band through tail.

At 1245 a single bird flew SW over the Water Meadows. This bird did not linger therefore appeared to be migrating.

On 26th March three birds.

At 0951 a single bird low E over the track at the E end of the Water meadows. Bird appeared to be hunting remaining low before departing.

White eye. Dark streaking noticeable through breast. Possible wear to outer tail feathers.

At 1045 a single bird low N over the water meadows. This bird flew a direct route giving the impression of migration.

At1058 a single bird flew E. A secondary is missing on the right wing but does not appear to be in moult as both wings would show a gap in the same place. Brown streaking in breast. Some wear in outer primaries. Sub terminal band in tail not obvious.

On 18^th March a single bird.

At 1308 a single bird flew W from south of Athelhampton Road. Direct route taken giving impression of migratory route.

Long winged with long pointed tail. Other characteristics not clear in photo taken with sun behind the bird.

On 17^th March two birds.

At 1330 two birds arrive over the meadows at different heights both joined up and flew SW. Once together gave impression of a migratory route.

The single bird showed some streaking on the breast a rufous shoulder and a long slim forked tail. The long wings and long forked tail is evident in the picture containing both birds. 

Many of the birds were migrating whereas a few may have been hunting in the area. This does not preclude these birds from hunting during a migratory journey. 

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows - Purple Patch!

A change in weather conditions was forecast for today and I wondered if I would catch up with some hirundines at Puddletown Water Meadows. I did as the cloud and cooler breeze closed in but I had to wait to 1224 before two birds flew E across the meadows. 

Bird of the day was another surprise (for me anyway) a female Goosander which suddenly appeared on the back pool which I believe links into the River Piddle itself. I have several methods of taking pictures (camera, mobile, old mobile set to digi-scope) but this bird was proving tricky to take any kind of recognizable shot of. I finally succeeded with a digi-scope shot which I included on my tweet.

I later bumped into the bird again as it was negotiating the River Piddle. Unfortunately the territorial Mallards took exception to its presence chasing it off in the direction of Athelhampton House. This proved to be my best photo opportunity but I would have preferred if the bird had been left alone by the guardians of the river.

Around the above events the now familiar sight of Red Kites kept me entertained. Two birds together at 1030. One bird (above) swooping down in the direction of the second bird which was much lower as it scanned the meadows. The Teal did not hang around once they were spotted.

Both birds drifted off together East towards Athelhampton House. The 2^nd bird is shown above this paragraph.

At 1245 another Red Kite appeared from behind me attracting the attention of a couple of buzzard. This bird did not hang around gliding off SW.

That is nine Red Kite’s since the 17^th March. Last year this would have been unheard of. I remember seeing a bird in January over the water meadows making double figures. I have pictures of all and will compare feather patterns to establish if these are returning birds or if this is just a good year for Kites!   

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows - Raptors Delight!

My time today was limited as I had to officiate in the afternoon. I was therefore up and out at nearly stupid o’clock with eyes firmly fixed on Puddletown Water Meadows. The water levels are receding but still higher than this time last year!

The skies were clear and almost bird-less which had me wondering if I had made the right decision then boom a raptor honed into view to my left. It was fairly high but I noted the cream head and shoulders! Crickey! A Marsh Harrier! The camera was thrown at it as it almost effortlessly glided with the odd flap of its wings thrown in. The bird was clearly on a mission to get somewhere heading off north over the trees and A35.

The photos don’t show the extent of the cream on the shoulders but do show dark fingers with paler inner primaries. There does not appear to be any moult through the primaries/secondaries. The upper tail was not seen.

I was not expecting that a first for me on this site and more fuel on the, I should spend more time here fire! I decided to go for a walk down the lane in the vein hope of a Wheatear in the horse paddock and over the meadows glided in a Red Kite. 

The front view of long drooping wings had me poised with the camera as it drew nearer! A few pictures and clunk my battery had run out! The bird continued east over the track towards Athelhampton House.

I made my was back to the car changed the battery and being quite pleased with the morning settled at my regular spot by the car! Most locals have got to know the birdman and his car many stopping to find out the latest news from the meadows!

About an hour passed and from out from behind the sun a Red Kite appeared gliding north over the houses and across the meadows. Interesting! Was this a second bird or the first bird that had completed rather a large loop crossing the road and re-appearing from behind me.

Another ten to fifteen minutes passed and low and behold another Red Kite appeared travelling east passing in front of me. Now this bird had a missing secondary unlike the previous bird(s) which suggested there had been at least two Kites! Perhaps the corvids had had a swipe at it over the rookery. There was no commotion to suggest this in fact there was very little commotion for any of the sightings!

Red Kites are expanding their range in Dorset but are generally in the North and regular in neighbouring counties. During the last few weeks there has been a considerable increase in the movement of this species with birds seen over Puddletown, Weymouth, Portland and Poole areas. Are these displaced birds looking for new breeding grounds or is it a good year for this species?

Two birds in a day are good, but the possibility of three is unheard of in these parts!

The local Buzzard was also on good form along with a Sparrowhawk which completed the morning’s raptor fest!

Time ticked on with 47 species recorded and I reluctantly had to leave. Incidentally the game was also a thriller 3-4 in the heat of the afternoon! 

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows - Today's Round Up!

After seeing Red Kite two days running the skies have been clear and the days have been bright and sunny which is good for the suntan but not good for pushing migrants within view. I am still regularly recording forty plus species despite the water levels receding.

Time spent scanning the fields and paddocks’ looking for a Wheatear has not been fruitful to date, but this species is making a trickle of an appearance on Portland so numbers are low! Hopefully in the weeks ahead the birds will move North and you never know I might chance on one here!

Red Legged Partridge are resident but they are not regularly seen. They are usually picked up dashing across a field/path and diving into a ditch.

There were singing Chiffchaff, Cetti’s Warbler in amongst the common passerines. A group of Snipe were feeding along the margins of the waterline. No signs of any Jack Snipe but I guess they may have moved on if they were present this year.

Song Thrush was busy claiming their territories and Blackbird was seen in low flight along the hedge and tree lines. A Mistle Thrush announced itself from a tree before dropping into a horse paddock to feed.

A couple of Pied Wagtail were also present in the same paddock remaining after the horses had been returned to the field.

The weekend is forecast to be sunny with next week looking a bit more promising with cloud but there is a slight drop in the temperature!

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows - Keeping a Eye on the Sky!

There has not been much to write about at the Water Meadows of late. Numbers of Geese and wildfowl are significantly down. The flock of Lapwing has moved to pastures new. I have been watching the skies hoping for a Sand Martin. Last year I struck on March 4^th but this was a very overcast day unlike the current trend of high cloud with prolonged spells of sunshine.

I have also been checking local horse paddocks and fields that may also tempt a Wheatear or even a Black Redstart. Both would be new for my River Piddle Valley tally and the former are trickling in along the coast.

Today showed signs of improvement when I spied a Red Kite gliding in from the NE. This bird continued its path putting in a couple of small circuits above the water meadows as a second Red Kite honed into view below it.

Both birds then glided on continuing SW and were gone before anything on the meadows had time to react to their presence. One of the local Raven made an appearance soon after but then it was back to scanning the meadows. A Green Sandpiper was noted along the water’s edge. This species winters but can be difficult to locate.

Today I added another new species to my tally in the form of a couple of Siskin that was feeding with Goldfinch at the back of a small wooded area.

Nuthatch and Goldcrest were also noted in this area as well as a mobile mixed tit flock.

A pale phase Common Buzzard caused a momentary stir the other day. The local buzzards have also been in good form of late with sparring birds on the warmer days.

There has been a good passage of gulls with increased numbers of Mediterranean Gulls resting on the meadows. Common Gull numbers have dropped off with the occasional Lesser Black Backed passing through.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that the fields stay flooded for a few weeks more!

Dorset - Waddock Farm Cress Beds - Creeping around in the Cress!

Puddletown Water Meadows was the day’s first port of call. I recorded forty species during a two hour stint. There was nothing I saw that was out of the ordinary. The local Buzzards were performing well moving as far down as Athelhampton House. I did however find one dead in a field which explained the odd number in the skies!

Bird of the day a Raven announced itself at Waddock Farm Cress beds before completing several circuits overhead. This species is common in the area but is always a welcome sight.

Several Rook kept an eager eye on the Raven completing a similar overhead route. This gave me a good photo opportunity offering a good comparison of both species. Identification issues can present themselves particularly at distance where the size difference is not always obvious!

At ground level the cress beds were fully laden including a few regular guests that were taking advantage of the crop!

The beds were also littered with Wagtail who were feeding on the glut of insects and a solitary Meadow Pipit!