Dorset - Middlebere Channel Poole Harbour - Rain Did Not Stop Play Today!

 

The forecast for the day was grim! Rain and then some more! I usually hide in the gym on days like this but today I fancied an outing! I took the relatively short drive to Poole Harbour and walked down to the hide which overlooks The Middlebere Channel. Spotted Redshank had been noted of late and incidentally winter in the harbour. It did not take long to hear a bird that promptly flew in and landed on the banks to one of many waterways leading into the channel.

To tide continued to rise with numbers of Black Tailed Godwit increasing in number. Greenshank and a Curlew were also present. By early afternoon there was a small let up in the rain which had enticed a couple of Spoonbill to move around the harbour! Their progress came to an abrupt halt as another band of rain rolled in causing the birds to down wings and roost on the far bank opposite the hide!

The rest of the afternoon remained much the same with the tide rapidly falling leaving the mudflats exposed for the shorebirds to feast on!

Dorset - Lodmoor RSPB - Recent Round Up!

 

I have been mixing my time up between the Farm and trips to Weymouth and Portland. My last trip to Lodmoor produced a good variety of birds including a very scaly juvenile Cuckoo.

A Greenshank was also present and it is believed the same bird has remained on the reserve and was seen again today.

A Spoonbill dropped in and joined a Little Egret whilst I was watching the west scrape. The bird did not remain for long departing north.

A Curlew with a shorter bill had me double checking the identity of the bird! This was another bird that did not stay for long during conditions that suited movement in the area.

I returned to Lodmoor RSPB this morning at stupid o’clock hoping for more of the same but it was not to be despite a thorough search of the reserve. High tide was just after 0700 therefore there was a chance there would be a few shorebirds on the reserve!

My first aim was to check the paths and hopefully catch up with the woodpeckers that are in the area. They did not disappoint with three Green and two Great Spotted most were seen early morning.

I moved onto the wetland where a long staying Greenshank was still present in front of the shelter. A Little Ringed Plover was at the hump but too far away for pictures. Common, Green Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit made up the shorebird numbers.

Most of the terns have moved on but there were a few Common with a single Sandwich Tern on the west side of the reserve.

Great Egret is a regular feature on the reserve the breeding plumaged bird was not seen today.

Dorset - Portland Bill - Morning Sea-Watch!

I spent the morning at Portland Bill on a sea-watch. The Red-footed Booby has been seen again in the west and with a morning to spare before the football I took the journey to The Bill. I stopped off at Portland Castle where the Great Northern Diver was basking in amongst the boats!

The wind at The Bill was very strong from the west so I pitched down on the rocks in front of the obelisk sheltering me from the elements. Once I had settled in it was quite bit bright in the sun but all things considered quite pleasant!

Movement at sea was slow with a general movement west of birds. Gannets were noted high and far out to sea. A bit closer in a couple of Manx Shearwater passed through. The sunlight gave the bird a brownish appearance across the upper-wing. The under-wing was smart with dark outer tips to the primaries and secondaries and white through the vent confirming the identity of the bird.

Terns although not numerous were well represented with half a dozen Little (which is new for me at The Bill), Sandwich and Common passing by at close to mid water.

The regular fare of Auks, Fulmar, Kittiwake and Shag were in attendance along with Common Scoter offshore!

Early morning there was a good gathering of gulls in the field opposite Culverwell this morning. A couple of graellsii Lesser Black-backed Gulls were in the flock. Note the mid grey mantle and white panel in p10 which is a feature on third winter birds.

The morning passed by too quickly unlike the football which is now in extra-time!!

Dorset - Bardolf Farm - Birding with a Bonus!

 

The prize for a morning spent walking the fields was a Spotted Flycatcher that was spied fly-catching whilst spending short periods basking in the sun on the edge of the woodland near the Manor House!

There were several family parties of Long Tail, Blue and Great Tit in the area with juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker practicing short flights between the trees!

Blue-bordered Carpet

At the Manor House Hugo was busy processing his haul of moths which gave us a chance to catch up on news around the farm!

Poplar Grey

A couple of new moths were added to my growing tally!

I spent the early evening at Waddock Farm Cress-beds where a Red Kite drifted over heading in the general direction of Moreton!

Dorset - General Round-Up!

I have been in research mode for the last few days checking out my growing list of regular haunts of species that are good to locate during tours. A Great Northern Diver is an interesting resident in the harbour at present! I thoroughly enjoy the whole process of guiding from the planning stage to showing clients the birds and compiling a trip report. Link Dorset Bird Tours

The Heights Hotel has already booked my services for 2025 which will also include attending next years bird fair to promote hotel and private bird tours!

On a personal note I have decided to spread my wings and start travelling again. I have booked a self planned trip to Morocco and look forward to winding my way across the Atlas Mountains in search of new birds! I am also hoping to join Pete Alfrey in Bulgaria later and catch up with Pavel who runs Bed and Birding!

Back on the home front the Farm is quiet at this time of year with one more breeding survey to complete. It will be interesting to compare the results with last year having had so much rain this year! I will also spend some time walking the fields listening out for Quail!

The moth light is being put out on favourable nights and I have logged over 60 species since I bought my own trap a few months ago!

I am still training but it is unlikely I will continue officiating next season. I want to spend more time developing my tours and travelling to improve my knowledge of Western Palearctic birds!