Dorset - Lodmoor RSPB - American Golden Plover!

I received a call from Brett on Saturday about a juvenile American Golden Plover that Darah had found at Lodmoor RSPB. I was just setting out for my game at Bridport FC and could not make the trip to Lodmoor. My parting line was "I hoped the bird stuck around until after the weekend". I also had a game on Sunday which was more suited to ducks than footballers!

I was up at early ish o clock and made my way to Lodmoor in heavy rain. This was supposed to stop after 0800 therefore I was not too troubled by this. It was still raining when I arrived and I started to get a bit worried!

I walked the north path hoping a Bittern would grace me with its presence but this was not to be. I noted a large flock of Golden Plover were circling the reserve losing height with every completed circuit. The birds eventually came to rest on the west scrape and were close by. I negotiated the path that was littered with passerines including Blackbird that were feeding on the ground.

After some searching I located the American Golden Plover which was pretty aggressive towards the other plover around it. The bird was smaller than its European Counterpart and noticeably greyer with a prominent supercillial stripe behind the eye.

I secured some shots and then put the news out. The flock became very restless taking to the skies several times before splitting up and settling. The bird was seen once more before it was lost to view. I met up with Bob Ford to discuss bird tours and hopefully get Bob onto the bird. This was the largest Golden Plover flock I had seen at Lodmoor and numbers were estimated at over 700 during the day.

Numbers grew as the morning progressed but despite many pairs of eyes fixed on the flocks the plover was not re located.

I remained on site until dusk once again in the hope of spying a Bittern through the rain showers. A female Goosander dropped in during one downpour! Note the thick neck and base to bill and white patch under the chin!

Early starts are paying dividends at the moment!

Dorset - Wild Woodbury Rewilding Project Bere Regis - Great Grey Shrike!

I was up and out at early o clock this morning with only one thing in mind. The Great Grey Shrike that appeared to have roosted in the area contained within the Wild Woodbury rewilding Project near Bere Regis.

The day was perfect for a shrike warm very little wind with sunny spells early on. There were only a couple of people in the area and I joined a lady that had been to look for the Short Eared Owls the night before (when the shrike was first seen!). I scanned the hedgerow and saw a white blob on top of a bush. I switched to the scope and said “I’m just going to check this is not a Magpie” It wasn’t and my latest Dorset tick was calmly perched up in full view although distant.

I phoned Pete Coe and then put the news out. At last I had caught up with this bird! The bird moved along the hedgerow in full view for at least an hour. During this time I met Seb Elwood (formerly Haggett) who had recently returned from his honeymoon in Costa Rica having married Liv who works on the Poole Harbour Osprey Translocation Project! Both have changed their surname which means “Old Forest”. He was delighted to connect with the shrike! 

The project has just entered its third year and is transforming how our landscape can benefit from the return to natural processes. Details of the project can be found here:-  Wild Woodbury Project . 

Donations to the project can be made through the Dorset Wildlife Trust here:- Wild Woodbury Donations

The shrike eventually disappeared out of view chasing a passerine into the hedgerow which ran adjacent to where I was standing. The bird was not seen for the remainder of the day! I remained in the area hoping to connect with Short Eared Owl before dusk but was not successful! I finally met Ian Ballam and a couple of folk who knew of me but could now put a face to the Kojak logo!

The only question in my mind now is where the shrike has gone. If it has moved further west then I should check the areas of the farm from Tolpuddle through to Athelhampton. A long shot I know but Bardolf Farm has records of Great Grey Shrike the last between 10^th November and 2^nd December 1988 at Higher Burnbake!

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm - Barnacles are Back!

The water levels on the meadows look good for something interesting to drop into. Wildfowl numbers are consistent for the time of year with six Barnacle Geese making a regular return on Sunday to top the bill! I listen out for them as they would be a good garden tick!

Today I had one eye to the sky as I completed my rounds. There were around 4,000 Wood Pigeon that were hoovering up the remnants of the maize crops and likely having the feeding station seed for desert! The pigeons are like locusts as they move from field to field and I was hoping a Goshawk might make an appearance at some point!

The gulls at Beddington Farm used to cause a commotion when a raptor appeared but this spectacle is nothing short of chaos when a Goshawk suddenly appears from the shadows! Today wasn’t going to be that day but it didn’t stop me from shadowing the pigeons for a good proportion of the morning!

Late afternoon the Barnacle Geese were in prime position for pictures from the gate at Cattlecrush but there was a friendly herd of cows between me and the gate! And on this occasion I could not sneak past the guards!

Pete Coe’s news broke of a Great Grey Shrike not far from me late afternoon! I guess I will have another attempt in trying to connect with this bird in the morning! There just aren’t enough daylight hours! 

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows - Bunch of Barnies!

The hatches are down and the meadows are flooded. This is always an interesting time of year on Bardolf Farm as birds are drawn into the area if only to have a look at the fields before departure. I visited Waterston prior to my stake out at my usual haunt. There is about a mile between them and the River Piddle also runs through here. I have noticed recently that the fields are very flooded which has attracted gulls and today approximately 1400 pigeons to the neighbouring fields! Nothing special was noted but I will keep an eye on this area until the water recedes.

Wildfowl have increased on Puddletown Water Meadows and it was a good day for species of Geese with six Barnacles being the main attraction. The origins of these birds are doubtful but I believe Silverlake had similar numbers earlier in the year. Egyptian, Canada and Greylag were also present along with other wildfowl including a male Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal. A small flock of Lapwings were also present.

I had a brief stop off before dusk at Athelhampton and I was delighted to see the area was also flooded! Little Egrets and Herring Gulls going to roost were the only notable movements overhead.

The temperature is due to drop next week but will it be enough to encourage something rarer to visit the meadows! Time will tell! 

Dorset - Chesil Cove and Portland Castle - Leach's Petrel's Delight!

The weather has been more suited to ducks than being on the turf therefore I was sat on the doorstep waiting for the eleven o clock pitch inspection to reveal the obvious outcome!

A few minutes later I was off to Chesil Cove to join Charlie are the regulars on a sea-watch. I missed the Great Shearwater which is very unusual at this time of year. There were around 200 reported past Lizard Point which is also irregular as this species should now be back on its breeding grounds in the South Atlantic.

The good news was there were numerous Leach’s Storm Petrels moving through the Cove one fell fowl to a Greater Black-backed Gull prior to my arrival. The wind was still blowing a gale and once I had reached the huts and settled in (Took me ages to get my eye in much to the amusement of the regulars!) the sheltered watching was very enjoyable!

Most birds were at telescope range but a couple came within range of my 300mm lens. This species is seen during this time of year but not usually in these numbers. The pale panel in the wing and the divide to the white rump separate this species from the Storm Petrel which also has a white band on the wings.

Once the seas looked brighter I moved down to Portland Castle where the Great Northern Divers have been observed close in feeding on crabs. I was not to be disappointed as the light was good for a while and a partially breeding plumaged bird came in close again within striking range! My Blue Peter photography beginners badge is in the post!

Not a bad afternoon at all. I will be waiting on a call tomorrow regarding Weymouth Women’s game but the first team played on the pitch today, have another home game on Tuesday night and there is more rain tonight so who knows if it will be on!

Dorset - RSPB Weymouth Wetlands - Fudge Duck does the rounds!

 

The plan was to have an away day once the Ferruginous Duck had been confirmed as still being on the Postbox pool at Lodmoor RSPB. I arrived in the nick of time having a brief view in the telescope before it joined three Pochard completed a couple of low circuits of the area and flew off NW towards Radipole RSPB. The regulars upped sticks and made their way to look for the bird at Radipole.

I stayed at Lodmoor keeping my eye on whatsapp in anticipation of the bird being re-located at Radipole. The east scrape was loaded with ducks, gulls and a flock of Golden Plover who intermittently took to the sky performed a wheeling display before coming back down to earth.

A Marsh Harrier was the cause of all the commotion on one occasion small flocks of Snipe joined the now busy airways!

A single Dark Bellied Brent Goose was found in amongst the Canada Geese before the news broke that the Ferruginous Dusk had been found in the open water between the shelter and the tennis courts. A brisk walk and a short drive later I was at Radipole obtaining sun lit views of the bird thanks to Martin Cade!

The final task of the day was to get some pictures of the duck. This involved another yomp and almost a swim as the paths were very flooded en-route to the shelter! After some good banter with the regular Band of Birders I made my way back to the truck. Thanks Roly!