Dorset - Athelhampton Bardolf Farm - Cattle Egrets Drop In!

I spent the afternoon trawling the Farm looking for migrants. Blackcap have arrived in small numbers and I have had a female visiting my feeders for a while now. Most of the winter wildfowl have departed to pastures new but I did find a small flock of Teal and a lone Lapwing and Wigeon today!

The afternoon pressed on with one eye to the skies as Osprey’s are on the move and one was reported over Portland and at the Fleet which fueled my fire to add one to my Farm tally!

The day was drawing in and I was at Athelhampton checking the sodden fields when a flock of Egrets dropped in on the most southern most field from Athelhampton Road. My initial count was 6 Cattle and a handful of Little, but the Cattle Egrets decided to move on as a group and 8 was the tally!

Cattle Egrets have been noted on the Farm earlier this year and there have been sightings of various numbers from Affpuddle and Tolpuddle (I had 6 there recently) which is further east along the Piddle valley. This suggests the valley is being used by Egrets (and Red Kite) to navigate between feeding grounds!

This species is becoming more common in Dorset with good numbers that roost at Abbotsbury. Records on the Farm are naturally increasing along with Goosander. This could also be a result of the high water levels in the area!

Dorset - Isle of Portland and Harbour - Sea Watch with Many Manx Shearwater!

I spent the day at Portland sea-watching and searching for migrants. The sea-watch started in Chesil Cove at stupid o clock amidst some heavy rain which had downed a Manx Shearwater in the cove. A couple of Sandwich Tern were the only product of what seemed like a crazy idea!

The Sandwich Terns were moving out to sea from the Harbour and The Fleet so I decided to go and investigate. I bumped into Pete and Debbie Saunders in the harbour. The Sandwich Tern were moving through the harbour from the Nothe Fort area and Pete logged 80+ birds in his time there.

There was also a couple of Great Northern Diver in the Harbour. These will be moving on to breeding grounds soon.

A sea watch at Portland Bill produced the best results following heavy showers which saw Manx Shearwaters passing east through the bill. The biggest group was six birds. A small flock of Scoter and Sandwich Tern were also noted.

A Wheatear made a brief appearance as I walked back to the Observatory. Once the sun re-appeared there were plenty of folk wandering around at the Bill therefore it was no surprise the bird did not stick around!

I spent the afternoon checking the fields on the east side of the island which did not add much to the day list.

Dorset - Bardolf Farm - Afternoon Pursuit over the Farm!

I took a mid afternoon jaunt over to the Farm today. The waters are receding which is leaving a network of muddy edges that may well tempt a shorebird or two! After my initial vigil from Athelhampton Road I donned the wellies and went to view the meadows from the Causeway pond moving round to the gate to mill mead which is still under water. A couple of Sand Martin were noted around the area of causeway pond!

As I was there a white dove entered from the east with an adult Goshawk in hot pursuit. There were a few twists and turns as the chase ventured through the trees towards Athelhampton Road. I managed a few shots but none will win any awards and the fate of the dove is unknown.

The female Goosander was still present late on at Athelhampton!

The doves are common in the village and on my feeders. They regularly fly low along Athelhampton Road buzzing past me if I am on watch there!

I think the next few days will be spent walking the fields in these areas as the habitat looks good for something to drop in!

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm - Hirundines from the Heavens!

An earlier start on the farm today which was much chillier than yesterday but there were things going on amongst the swirling clouds! It took a while for birds to emerge from the clouds but when the action started I had to have eyes everywhere!

A Red Kite was the first interesting entrant wheeling in from the east. The bird circled above Puddletown Water Meadows and then seemed to be sucked up into a vortex of air disappearing above the cloud and vanishing! 

I have compared the feather wear on this bird with the bird at Athelhampton the previous day and there is more wear in the tail and wear in the primary tips at p6 and 7 on both wings which suggests this is a different bird. Three birds in two days will there be more to come!

Shortly after eight Buzzard suddenly dropped below the cloud as they circled in a migratory fashion. These birds disappeared in the same manner as the Kite which definitely put me on edge! What would be next!

I noted a pair of Gadwall on the meadows. This species is a rare visitor to the farm with no records last year! My previous sightings have all been at Athelhampton.

I have convinced myself there will be a Garganey tucked away amongst the receding water and sodden ground so I walked the meadows in search of this quarry. I was at the Causeway pond scanning the fields when a flock of Sand Martin appeared below the clouds the birds remained in the area hawking the feast of insects!

A female Goosander was noted resting in the grass at the waters edge at Athelhampton. This is another species that has become a regular feature on the farm this year!

The rest of the day was pretty average after that!

Dorset - Bardolf Farm - Kite Flying Conditions!

Having had a blast of the bug that is going around I made it on the farm at late o clock this morning. Sometimes I wonder if these things happen for a reason as the day turned into a late raptor watch from the ridge.

The water levels are receding on the farm leaving plenty of muddy edges to the meadows. The wellies were on and it was time to walk the meadows looking for a shorebird that may have stopped off to re-fuel! None were found in the three key areas but the warm air certainly encouraged the raptors to put in extended appearances! There is a distinct lack of Green Sandpiper this winter!

The Buzzard pairs were very vocal today over the ridge with Sparrowhawk, and a Kestrel joining in the mix! Birds of the day were the two Red Kites that put in appearances on different areas of the farm.

The first came in low over the meadows at Athelhampton at 1247hrs. The bird checked me out as I was walking the fields before it slowly wheeled off in the direction of Puddletown Water Meadows! I continued my rounds noting a high number of Little Egret on the farm.

I was checking a feeding station which incidentally still had good numbers of Yellowhammer present when a Red Kite appeared distantly at the top of the ridge. I was at the bottom of the path and only had limited views of the bird that seemed in no hurry to go anywhere. I moved to a better position below the ridge but could not re-locate the bird! Could this be the same bird as before?!

The second confirmed Red Kite of the day was flying high in a northerly direction and seemed on a mission to get somewhere it was late afternoon 1642hrs! I have checked all my dot shots and the bird in missing a primary feather (p7) which may be moult! The secondaries were complete and it was difficult from the other pictures to see the extent of wear in the tail (which the first bird had)!

Last year was quiet on the Red Kite front but the previous year there were migratory birds moving through the farm. I spent hours comparing photographs of birds in an attempt to establish if there were “local” birds visiting the Farm! Three birds were noted in the same day on more than one occasion!

Tomorrow looks like more of the same weather therefore I hope to get out earlier with the prospect of catching up with some hirundines! An Alpine Swift was photographed over Southwell, Portland this afternoon!! Wow!

Dorset Athelhampton Bardolf Farm - Flock of Egrets!

 

A start at reasonable o clock this morning with another SW wind which I hoped may have sent a hirundine the Farms way. It was not to be but a mixed flock of Egrets containing four Cattle Egret were seen arrive at Athelhampton mid morning.

The flock was present in the fields behind Burleston Farmhouse yesterday and it is highly likely these are the same birds that returned today! 

A female Goosander was also spied on the Brook partially concealed by vegetation.

A flock of Siskins were found in the Alders in a local garden with birds visiting a garden path between forays in the trees. 

A couple of Great Black-backed Gull were seen on the water meadows along with the regular mix of wildfowl! 

Dorset - Isle of Portland and Weymouth - Owls Zat!

A twelve hour shift in the field with Roly ended on a high note with a Short Eared Owl giving excellent views hunting over a couple of fields in close proximity to our location!

The morning began at stupid o clock at Portland Bill with a handful of Red-throated Diver and twenty five Common Scoters passing during a three hour session.

A visit to Portland is not complete without checking in on the Little Owl at the Observatory Quarry!

The rest of the day was spent visiting a very windy Ferrybridge, Portland harbour and Lodmoor RSPB. A couple of Great Northern Diver was noted at Portland Castle. A couple of Black-tailed Godwits were the only birds of note at Lodmoor which still had very high water levels!

Celebratory Fish and Chips were had before we parted company with a plan to meet up for another adventure! 

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm - Peaceful Puddletown!

 I spent a full day at the farm which started with a chilly wind. There were a few movements over Puddletown Water Meadows (Mill Mead) including Great Black-backed and Lesser Black Backed Gulls. No hirundines so far but it is generally a bit early for Sand Martin!

I was just about to move on up the lane and a Shelduck entered from the SW circled and then landed on the flooded meadows. It spent the next hour or so feeding and generally wandering around! This species is not rare in Dorset but was the third record for Bardolf Farm! Two birds dropped in at the same place on Friday 26^th January 2024. Blog entry here.

The rest of the day was spent doing the rounds which included observations at the feeding stations. Numbers were down but perhaps this is a result of the milder weather! Owl watch did not even produce a hoot in any direction!

Yesterday whilst up a ladder cleaning the guttering I heard Mediterranean Gulls calling. I quick slide down the ladder dash in the house for the camera and a garden tick ensued. Twelve birds were counted amongst Black-headed Gull. The bird in the picture is a 2nd winter with black notching on the outer primaries and an incomplete black hood.