Dorset - Bardolf Farm Puddletown Water Meadows - Pair of Pintail!

My Bardolf Farm yearlist stands at 99 species and time is rapidly running out to find that additional species. Listing is a small part of my ornithological journey but it provides the extra incentive to get out in the field on days where the conditions are not ideal. For the past two years White Fronted Goose has found its way onto the list and I have been hopeful to add this species without success. I guess the mild weather has prevented the usual influx to the West of the country.

The water meadows are flooded with water spilling onto some of the tracks. This is good news for the wildfowl with Wigeon numbers on the increase. I had my highest count of Lapwing today 578, Wigeon 391 and Teal 80. The Canada geese were scattered over the flooded fields but were down considerably on recent counts.

A pair of Pintail was also present with the Wigeon both generally staying apart from each other. This species is not common on the Farm therefore Hugo joined me to view the pair and an interesting Wigeon I had spied in the scope.

The bird had a distinct green band behind the eye extending to the back of the head, the crown stripe was off cream with dark rufous brown cheeks. The bird was obvious within the Wigeon flock and is likely to be a hybrid (Chiloe or American x Eurasian??)! I attempted some dot shots but will need to review the pictures! On the subject of hybrids the Swan x Greylag Goose was still present at Athelhampton.

There is more rain to arrive overnight which could wash tomorrow out. A switch to training mode looks to be in order and could result in some dry afternoon time to bag the 100^th species! But nothing is guaranteed!

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows and Athelhampton - The Godwit Files!

I spent the morning sitting around waiting for a pitch inspection which not surprisingly resulted in the Dorset Premier League game in Weymouth being called off due to a frozen pitch! There was no time to waste as I jumped into action and made my way down to the gate at Cattlecrush to see what had arrived overnight!

The Black tailed Godwit had increased in ranks with a final total of 24 birds feeding along the meadows. This was another record count for the farm! Mid afternoon a group of godwits flew east, and were re-located on the flooded meadows at Athelhampton. This was extremely handy for me as I had a chance of improving on my stack of dot shots. Probably the only down side to the water meadows that everything is so far away!

At Athelhampton I sifted through the Snipe in the hope of finding a Jack but they tend to sit tight unless you tread on one so it was not meant to be. I am certain they are out there somewhere! 

There were more Shoveler (9) today and Teal (161+56 at Athelhampton) and Canada Goose (440) numbers were up on yesterday. 

It is warming up tomorrow but with that comes rain. Hugo has stated the Lapwing will return in the milder conditions and who knows what might be with them!

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm - Many More of The Same!

With every cold icy day that passes more wildfowl are finding their way onto the water meadows. I started my rounds noting new arrivals in Shoveler (2 pairs) and a pair of Gadwall. I checked Athelhampton for the previous days Godwit but it could not be found. I returned to the other side of the water meadows to view the pools from the gate at Cattlecrush. The sun was beaming away directly in front of me which was nice being able to keep warm but viewing was very tricky!

I did however notice a group of four Black tailed Godwit feeding in a small channel. This number grew as more birds came into view and the sun eventually passed over the meadows disappearing behind the trees! I had been in contact with Hugo earlier but phoned again when I had established that there were 19 birds thanks to a lively Lapwing that had flushed a further group feeding out of sight.

The flock settled together before the Lapwing rallied some support and headed straight for them. The flock scattered but they were determined to stay in the area splitting into several groups. This seemed to quell the interest from the Lapwing and tranquility was restored to the meadows. Hugo joined me to witness the 5^th record (including yesterday’s bird!) and largest count of this species on Bardolf Farm!

I contacted Roger who covers Briantspuddle who informed me that his flock of 16 Godwits were not present today but 100 Snipe were! Briantspuddle is a few miles ESE of Puddletown and therefore likely that the flock had re settled here. The Godwits seemed content with the menu at the water meadows!

There is another frost due tonight and then the weather changes to rain Sunday! It’s not often that I hope football is cancelled but it is likely as more coastal areas freeze more birds will seek refuge on the water meadows!  

Dorset - Bardolf Farm - Keeping My Wits About Me!

The cold snap has continued which brings the water meadows into its own as the River Piddle flows through the pools keeping most unfrozen. As a result the Geese graze on the surrounding fields in good numbers, Egyptian, Canada, Greylag and a Swan x Greylag hybrid make up the species list. I am hopeful that something else might get drawn in with the masses! I have had White-fronted Geese both Decembers since I moved to the area will this year be a third?!

Bird of the day was on the flooded fields where the River Piddle runs through Athelhampton. A Black Tailed Godwit which is the second record for the year. Getting pictures was tricky as the bird had the sun behind it. It seemed quite content to feed and wash up despite a couple of Lapwing taking exception to it which gave an opportunity for some flight pictures!

I moved up to Waterbarn cottages early afternoon to check on a couple of the feeding stations and mixed seed fields where the finches and Yellowhammer have been hanging out. There was nothing unusual amongst the mixed flock. Taking advantage of the regular windfall of seed was Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Linnet, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Robin and Blackbird!

I am currently on 99 species for the year on the farm and with temperatures plummeting again tonight will tomorrow be the day where the years 100 target is met. Time will tell!

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows and Athelhampton - Two Ticks in Two Days!

Today is normally do what I like day as the weekend is dedicated to roaming the turf however yesterday’s weather was not to be missed therefore the morning had to be spent training. I ventured out early afternoon to do a quick round of the water meadows and Athelhampton two of the main areas for wildfowl on Bardolf Farm!

The water meadows had seventeen Egyptian Geese with two at Athelhampton made nineteen! A group of Snipe were huddled together on Ten Acre at Athelhampton but sadly no Jack with them!

There was an additional quest at Athelhampton in relation to squealing I had heard the previous evening and had discounted! I don’t know why I do this but I had only heard the bird therefore tonight’s mission was to confirm the species by seeing it!!

The light was beginning to fade so I took up position overlooking a sodden field where the River Piddle had burst its banks. The photo with the moorhen shows the gap (background) where the Water Rail first appeared squealing as it moved through the cover to the right. The Moorhen were more obliging moving out into the open but it was getting so dark I was just threw the camera at anything that moved having nailed Bardolf Farm species 106 through the telescope!

Water Rail is seen during the day so perhaps another foray to the same spot early morning might pay dividends. I may have to find some better cover though!

The answer to the exam question is still “D”! 

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm - An Egret Great!

I was out on the Water Meadows at just getting light o’clock. It was a bit chilly but the forecast was sunshine all day and calm! The water levels are great and the wildfowl numbers are increasing by the day. I was determined to take advantage of the conditions and perhaps land a species on my wish-list (see previous post).

As it turned out I did see a new species for my Bardolf Farm tally today and I imagined how the exam question would be laid out:-

Q. Kojak added a new species to his Farm list today was it?

A. Jack Snipe

B. Water Pipit

C. Firecrest

D. None of the above

I had positioned myself near the top of the ridge just past the small chalk quarry. The view of the flooded meadows north of Waterbarn Cottages is amazing particularly on a clear day. There were a good number of Wigeon, Teal and a few Lapwing on the northern section of the flooded meadows hence my choice of location.

At 1325 a Great White Egret appeared low over the fields and landed in the middle section of the meadows took a drink from the river shook its wings a couple of times and then it was off low SW over the fields. I was facing into the sun took some pictures whilst phoning Hugo. The bird was there for around six minutes but getting through seemed to take a lifetime!

Hugo had seen this species before but I believe only once late one evening and this bird did not stay for long. Birds are regularly seen at Lodmoor RSPB but this was the second record for Bardolf Farm which was quite exciting in itself!

Hugo did not connect with the bird but had a probable Siberian Chiffchaff in a group of Chiffchaffs down at the water meadows. I had a look for the chiffy and checked the rest of the flooded areas for the Egret with no joy but the sun had gone below the tree line and it was almost dark!

Ten Egyptian Goose the regular wintering Green Sandpipers, Snipe and plenty of Canada Goose, Wigeon, Teal and Lapwing! 

Bardolf Farm total 105! What a glorious day!