Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows - A Pleasant Hobby!

I took a short jaunt to Maiden Castle this morning to see or hear if the Quail was still singing in the area of the main car-park. No joy on that front so I stopped off at the Water Meadows to see if there was any activity.

There was with reasonable numbers of hirundines bombing about above the pools and fields. Just after 11am a Hobby entered stage left causing a commotion amongst the House Martins. The bird did not stick around for long before it made its way SE. The picture above shows the overall slim build, rusty vent and dark striping through the breast.

It wasn’t long after that the Red Kite made the first of two appearances over the meadows. I have had so many sightings this year I have become almost blaze about their presence. There is at least one local bird as well as some migrating birds. More details here.

A mixed morning with a note to self to cover some of the fields in the area listening for Quail, The Hobby is another new species for my Water Meadows tally but I expect more to pass through particularly on good hirundine days!

Dorset - Puddletown - Garden - The Youth of Today!

At this time of year I usually turn my attention to orchids and a butterfly hunt. I am sure there are new species of both to add to my lists. The water meadows is settled with a limited movement of birds. The soccer season is approaching fast. On the turf I gained promotion last season therefore can officiate in the Wessex and Western Leagues (whilst focusing on the Dorset Premier League) which means friendly matches start in mid July! Training sessions are in full flow now which has an impact on my time in the field!

I have turned my attention to my yard where a glorious mix of juvenile and young fledgling have been visiting the feeders. My garden is only a few metres wide and paved at the back with a metre wide flower bed running most of the length. I have three large feeders containing husk free sunflower hearts and a fat-ball feeder (empty until young can properly digest this food source) which is viewable from my conservatory. The birds are used to my presence here as long as I don’t make any drastic sudden moves! Unfortunately there is too much reflection through the windows to attempt photos.

My bathroom is situated directly opposite the feeders and makes for an excellent hide. Care has to be taken to sneak in as the feeders are only 4-5 metres from the window which has to be opened well in advance!

I have been recording between 15-20 species a day and get Siskin daily on the feeders. One of the males appeared to feed a juvenile House Sparrow that was squawking at him! I initially thought it was having a peck at the young bird but there was a pause before a seed was passed between the two.

The feeders can be packed with birds there are eighteen feeding points and plenty of waste for the Blackbird, Collared Dove and Wood Pigeon to mop up on the ground! A couple of white feral type doves take over sometimes. They can be pretty aggressive towards the other birds! A “genuine” Feral Pigeon also visits but I don’t see it every day.

The Goldfinch juveniles perform a wing shimmering display as the parents sit at a station eventually giving in to the noisy youngster nearby. House Sparrow juveniles line up around the metal hoop that is designed to hold a water bowl. I have placed garden canes at angles to accommodate birds waiting to access the feeders. I have a stone bird bath placed under cover for the birds to drink from.

I leave a small area of leaves for the Robin and Dunnock to sift through but if there is seed on the ground this is where these birds are generally found.

The above have been joined by a male and what appeared to be a newly fledged Chaffinch. I am working on getting pictures of the latter which is usually seen whilst I’m in the conservatory. 

By the time I have snuck commando style through to “The hide” it has moved on! This adult bird seems to have some kind of fungal disease on its feet! The bird is often in the garden.

I have had similar issues with a juvenile Greenfinch whose striped breast is a predominant feature and one I would like to capture on camera! I am considering a stake out after a training session to capture both species!

Overhead House Martins breed in the area, Buzzards are infrequent but resident. During the evening the Corvids perform a pre roost flight sometimes over the house. The majority are Jackdaw with some crow and Rook. The Rook visit the feeders once the fat balls get put out later in the year!

The feeders are definitely a mesmerizing distraction which can develop into a marathon if I don’t keep an eye on the time. The long warm evenings contribute to perfect viewing conditions from the glass part of the house! My time spent bird banding assisting in the identification of the newly fledged and juvenile birds!

Eighteen species observed whilst typing this blog on a generally overcast and shower filled day! As I post this a Red Kite flies over the garden camera in "The hide!" 

But it came back round and thanks to the commotion from the Herring Gulls I got a shot!