Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm - Stork Out!

There has been plenty of rain recently and as a result the meadows are gradually flooding. The farm had what I believe is a first record on October 27^th when Howard Mason saw from the ridge a White Stork in a tree near Waterbarn Cottages. The bird took flight to be joined by a second bird as both headed north over Devil’s Brook towards Langham’s Vineyard. I was heading to the farm and quickly diverted to the Vineyard to check the river and surrounding fields. I had no joy despite a thorough search of the area. 

I was out a bit earlier today having noted a new rain front of rain was heading this way. There wasn’t too much of note. A flock of Canada and Greylag Goose, Wigeon and Teal were at Puddletown Water Meadows. Numbers will gradually increase as the area floods. There have been a few Stonechat scattered about the farm of late. Today was no exception with a first winter male along Athelhampton Lane.

The birds made the most of the morning which was warm sunny with very little cloud. I guess they knew what was coming later in the afternoon! Howard joined me on top of the ridge as I watched the front edge ever closer.

I then put the truck to the use it was made for checking fields for anything that might be lurking. When I got to the top of Tractor field I noticed a large number of pigeon and corvids in flight over Barge field. It was time to investigate. There were a large number of mainly Stock Dove with a mix of Common, Herring and a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gull all on or in the vicinity of a tiny pond that had formed in the field. I do hope one day for a Yellow Legged or even a large white winged gull but with the change to shallow non inversion ploughing gull numbers are generally lower these days!

I made it home before the rain started washed the truck and its now having a rinse courtesy of the rain!

Martin has just sent me a picture of a Snipe that he had an encounter with today on one of the meadows. It’s difficult to judge size but the central crown stripe is dark, the bill looks short and the markings through the mantle are complete and dark. The bird looks good for a Jack Snipe. His description of behavior also points in this direction too! This would be the first of the Autumn!