Dorset - Bardolf Farm - Rotovator Works its Magic!

The weather was grim this morning so I took the opportunity to train and then the plan was to spent the latter part of the morning and afternoon on the farm. Showers were forecast therefore there was plenty of opportunity for something to drop in!

I did my rounds and then trudged my way like a pack-horse to “The hide” where I would spend a good few blustery hours watching the ridge. Early afternoon Andy drove by in the tractor with the rotovator attached to the back. He turned two strips at the bottom end of the fields behind me (plus other fields!). My immediate thoughts were Wheatear and I adjusted the plan to cover these areas before I went home.

I subsequently learnt the reason for the strips was to prevent the liquid fertilizer from washing away with the rain. Now I don’t know when the Wheatear both male pitched up but I made a real hash of my first effort dropping my camera as I attempted to photograph a bird that had frozen a few feet away from me. The clunk flushed the bird to the top of the hill and from then onwards it was a game of patience waiting for the bird to return to the area!

In between times there was a monsoon like downpour which had me backed into a hay bale at the barn in an effort to keep dry! Enter stage left bird number 2. There was a short conflict between the two and then both kept their distance from each other feeding on the same strip.

These were my first Wheatear on the farm and two seconds flap nearly cost me my camera! I am relieved to say the sun visor attachment took the brunt of the contact with the ground and the body and lens seem ok!

Dorset - Bardolf Farm - Mixed Bag!

I took an afternoon jaunt onto the Farm and during my rounds I managed to log my first House Martins of the year. It won’t be long before they take up residence in the village! The Siberian Chiffchaff was not at Athelhampton but it has moved before therefore it does not mean it has moved on.

Mid afternoon I set my stall up in “The Hide” and had my eyes firmly fixed on the ridge. The thermals were good as several Buzzard gathered to spar with each other. A Red Kite briefly joined this group before moving on SW.

The drake Tufted Duck re-appeared on Devils Brook and is still associating with Mallards. The birds took flight late in the afternoon which has me wondering if they are commuting from the lake in Milborne St Andrew.

I stayed out on the Farm until dusk checking fields and listening out for any unusual calls which included a regular evening "Konk" of the pair of Raven! A very pleasant afternoon in the field!  

Dorset - Athelhampton Bardolf Farm - Tristis and a White Tailed Eagle!

The calendar is winding slowly towards the business end of spring migration and for me this is the busiest time of the year. The football season ends with finals at the beginning of May and teams are packing in fixtures to be finished by the end of April. Sunday I have a National League Women’s fixture which will wipe the day out travelling meaning a day less in the field!

Today did not start well with me watching unsettled weather as I sorted out other matters at home. I finally got out late morning and wondered if I had missed the boat. A few Sand Martin and Swallow passed through the Water Meadows at Mill Mead which provided some hope.

The showers moved in therefore I re-located with a stop at Athelhampton which provided another sighting of the Siberian Chiffchaff which is a sub species “tristis” at the bridge over the River Piddle along Athelhampton Road.

I moved to the North end of Waterbarn Cottages and a tower that I have adopted as a hide that overlooks the Devil’s Brook and the ridge at Long Bottom. The roof and sides give good protection from the elements with a 360 degree view over the area.

The afternoon moved on and I spied a large fingered raptor appear over the North end of the ridge. The White Tailed Eagle wheeled making its way in my raised direction. I took some shots and then phoned Hugo as I know this is a new species for his farm tally. It seemed to take an age for him to answer and after a brief sentence “White tailed Eagle North field” the call ended! I hung out of the side of the tower monitoring the progress of the eagle as it passed over the tower. I spoke to Hugo later on and he saw the bird being mobbed over the Shales which is at the South end of the ridge.

A re-introduction scheme exists on the Isle of Wight which saw six birds transferred to the scheme in June 2019 releasing them in August of the same year. More information here Roy Dennis Foundation Despite the high possibility that today’s bird comes from this project it was still an amazing sight to see! There were also a couple of birds recently observed at Charminster Water Meadows near Dorchester. I have reported the sighting to the project leader and await a reply!