Dorset - Bardolf Farm - Pied Flycatcher Brightens up the Day!

The weather today looked dreary and cold but somehow interesting! I had breeding bird surveys to complete on the farm therefore my ears were pinned back hoping for something like a reeling Grasshopper Warbler as I completed my rounds.

The bird of the day was an immature male Pied Flycatcher whose thick wing bar caught my eye as I was negotiating the top end of the chalk quarry at the top of the ridge! Note the browner feathering through the coverts and primaries. The camera was deployed pretty quickly thanks to the new shoulder strap and Hugo was informed. 

This was a new species for my farm tally but there had not been one on the farm for a while therefore a good species to add to the year tally!

A Reed Warbler was also new for the year. There aren’t many areas to hold this species but they are almost annual!

A female Goosander was the last addition to the day before I made tracks and headed for home! Rain is forecast overnight therefore another visit in the morning may be worthwhile just in case something is downed in the rain!

Dorset - Isle of Portland - Western Subalpine Warbler Steals the Show!

The original plan was to visit Portland Saturday but the weather forecast indicated fog over the island which lingered at the top of the island until mid-day so I spent the day on the farm instead. I added Willow Warbler and Whitethroat to the list.

As events turned out visiting Portland today turned into a masterstroke. I started in the harbour and Ferrybridge with a couple of Whimbrel, Ringed Plover Turnstone and a few Sandwich Tern and Shelduck. Little did I know that the couple of Wheatear I saw were just the tip of the ice-burg.

I moved on up to the Verne and Fancy’s Farm which was littered with Wheatear! News broke of a Western Subalpine Warbler that was found by a visiting group from Gwent at the top of the strips and top fields. There was no time to waste I scuttled back to the car and headed for Sweethill Farm! I met Viv on the way and the next couple of hours drew a blank before the bird showed briefly! Numbers at the twitch were dwindling and as the afternoon wore on the bird showed well on several occasions which was a relief!

A male Redstart was a pleasant addition for further down the fields along with a steady movement of Wheatear through the area!

There was also a couple of Whinchat of which I saw a stunning male. I revisited the Subalpine Warbler a couple of times guiding people to the right area. Late afternoon I walked the fields moving down to The Hump and Reap Lane where I teamed up with Dave Bishop. A few more Wheatear were added to the tally but not much else!

Dorset - Portland to Gillingham - Uh Oh! Junco!

 

I was up and out at stupid o clock and heading off to Portland with the prospect of strong SSW winds which may offer up Skuas and Shearwaters! The sea at the bill was performing well with the sea crashing over the rocks onto the path at the Obelisk! I did question my sanity as I took up position tucked into the wall mid way along its width. There were a couple of wave and blow-hole photographers at work but beyond that the area way initially devoid of people!

Birds were generally moving east which was my general direction of observation. This tactic did cost me a Bonxie and Manx Sheerwater as they were observed from the observatory and passed behind me! High tide came and went which seemed to settle the sea to reasonable turbulence!

A four plus hour watch produced a close in dark phase Arctic Skua which cheered me up! A handful of Scoter, 47 Kittiwake a Manx Shearwater, 171 Gannet, 2 Sand Martin and a Swallow made up the tally! I returned to the Observatory and there was talk of a Dark-eyed Junco in a garden at Gillingham in the North of the county!

I have only seen one Junco in the UK and that was 7^th April 2008 at Dungeness in a garden near the lighthouse! It didn’t take much thinking time before I was on the road to Gillingham to secure a new bird for my Dorset tally!

Thanks to the property owners for allowing access to their garden. It was good to see a few of the usual suspects there! I find Dorset twitches a very civilized and social event!

Dorset - Bardolf Farm - Minimal Migration!

It was survey day on the Farm and it was blowing a gale so I wondered what kind of return I would get from the five areas I cover. As things turned out the results weren’t too bad and there were signs of some movement of hirundines on the site!

A flock of 8 Cattle Egrets are becoming almost regular this year. They were on Puddletown Water Meadows early morning before flying low E towards Athelhampton! These birds are using the Piddle Valley to navigate and have been seen on the flooded meadows at Affpuddle.

A couple of Red Kite was observed today both were different birds with one having secondary feathers missing in one wing. The wings on the first bird were complete with feathers. This species is clearly expanding its range in Dorset but I have wondered how many different birds visit the water meadows or if birds use the valley as a migratory route! I manage to get pictures of the majority of birds and have set about the task of comparing the feather patterns for each bird. I’m certain some birds do return but thus far there have been at least five different birds over the meadows! It seems this year is going to be another good year for Kite sightings. Last year was quiet in comparison!

Hirundines were on the move today with half a dozen Swallow and a flock of c35 Sand Martin that got held up over Athelhampton early afternoon!

A sombre end to the day where a young Roe deer had been hit by a car along Athelhampton Road (car didn't stop) and was sat in the road. Despite me lifting it into a jeep and a trip to the local vets the deer didn't make it!!