Dorset - Louds Mill Dorchester - Yellow-browed Warbler Still Present!

I took another morning skirmish to Louds Mill Dorchester to catch up with the Yellow-browed Warbler. The bird has been present in the trees opposite the no parking sign at the Water Treatment Works since last Saturday at least. This was my third visit and proved to be third time lucky for me!

The bird is quite feisty chasing any Chiffchaff off that dares to get too close to it! Paul Harris was the finder of what has been a bird of great interest to Dorset birders. That just shows how few there have been in the last few months! 

Hampshire - New Forest - Away day!

The day was spent in the New Forest researching the key areas within the backdrop of picturesque surroundings. I picked up Roly en-route and the adventure began in almost perfect conditions despite being very damp underfoot.

Pig Bush was the first stop where bird of the day was seen flying low over the open heathland. The adult female Hen Harrier glided by without any fuss and disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived!

During our visit all three woodpeckers were heard with only Great Spotted seen flying into and on the top of a tree. A Firecrest was more obliging making its presence known almost immediately as we entered the woodland.

A couple of Woodlark was singing in the area which made the task of finding them an easy one. A flock of around fifty Redpolls were found drinking from a puddle on one of the tracks which became more flooded and almost impassable in places.

An afternoon visit to Acres Down added Brambling to the days return. Woodpeckers were quiet for the majority of the afternoon. There were several Buzzard picked up from the ridge but it was concluded a morning visit would likely be more fruitful for key species.

The last stop of the day was at Eyeworth Pond where Mandarin Duck were seen along with a Raven.

This was also the best opportunity I had for pictures of Marsh Tit despite seeing many birds at all the sites during the day! Fish and chips finished a great day in the field!

Dorset - Athelhampton Bardolf Farm - Cattle Egrets Return!

 

I kept an eye on Athelhampton this morning and eventually located the Cattle Egrets on the flooded meadows south of Athelhampton Road. The birds are mobile feeding and then moving on to another area. A Buzzard disturbed them this afternoon all four flying low east towards Tolpuddle.

I drove the flooded areas towards Tolpuddle, locating a single bird on the flooded fields in front of Affpuddle village. Was this part of the original flock or an additional bird?!

With water levels as they are at present and more rain expected anything could turn up on the numerous flooded meadows!

Dorset - Athelhampton Bardolf Farm - Smash and Grab Farm Raid!

The rain has been relentless but it finally stopped late afternoon. This resulted in a scoot around the now completely flooded meadows in anticipation of finding something unusual in the wildfowl.

A visit to Athelhampton produced a high number of egrets with more arriving as I was checking through them! There was no surprise to me when I located four Cattle Egrets, three together in the far field to the south of the road, a single bird that moved onto the adjacent field to Athelhampton Road.

The birds arrived at 1700 and departed low NW with Little Egrets at 1745 heading towards Athelhampton House. I would not be surprised if they re-appear on the farm in the next few days!

Cattle Egret is uncommon on the farm with a couple of sightings each year. This species is regular in Dorset with good numbers that roost at Abbotsbury which isn’t too far away as the crow flies!

The fields in flood around the meadows which is a designated flood plain. Hatches divert water away from the local villages onto the land providing habitat for wildfowl in the winter.

Dorset - Portland to Radipole RSPB - An Early Migrant!

A trip to Portland this morning where fog greeted me as I drove up the hill to the Observatory! I went down to The Bill and tucked in for a short sea watch. The Auks were numerous with Gannet joining the passage of gulls. The only species of note were a couple of Fulmar.

I returned to the observatory and where a couple of Common Scoter was picked up as they negotiated the coastline. The fog had cleared but I decided to move down to the harbour to catch up with the grebes and divers.

A Black-necked Grebe had been seen close to Billy Winters the previous day and it did not take long before it was noted. There were a couple more birds but they were much further out! The Great Northern Diver was also at distance but I had better views from my next stop.

The Sailing Club (near Sandsfoot Castle) gives a view across the harbour and the small group of female Common Scoter was seen in amongst the buoys!

The last stop of the day was to catch up with a Swallow that had been seen for a second day at the Visitor Centre at Radipole RSPB. Studland had the first UK record on 9^th February 2024. The mild weather has also seen a House Martin at West Morden both locations are in Dorset!

Dorset - Bardolf Farm - Wildfowl on the Water Meadows!

I was back on Bardolf Farm today to complete the monthly WeBS and winter finch counts. The recent rain has topped up the water meadows and saw another Goosander visit the site at Athelhampton. The female was not too impressed with the Wigeon it was associating with as it pecked at the ducks heads any time one got too close to it. Beyond this the bird seemed quite settled on the bank to one of the tributaries that has formed due to the increase in water levels.

The Swan x Greylag Goose was also present with Canada Geese on the next field near Causeway pond. This bird has been visiting the farm for a while and has changed in appearance since its first visit and looks more like a Swan Goose apart from the orange thirds to the bill!

There were a few confused birds today many Song Thrush and Dunnock were singing and a Mute Swan and Canada Geese were prospecting nest sites. Another cold snap will resolve this early call to claim territories!

WeBS and Finch site totals.

Dorset - Isle of Portland - Island Rounds!

Today was spent on the Isle of Portland and the weather was very pleasant indeed having previously endured roughly 36hrs of rain! High tide was at around 7am therefore I stopped off at Portland Castle / Osprey Quay to check the area for a male Black Redstart and the mill pond of a harbour for Great Northern Diver.

Both species did not disappoint with the Black Redstart entering the area of rocks which bordered the boat yard.

The Great Northern Diver was easier to find on a very calm harbour. The bird stayed out beyond the buoys but was still finding plenty of food as it took short dives to take unsuspecting crabs from the bottom.

I called in at the observatory and the morning had been very quiet so I took a walk down to the bill to catch up with the Purple Sandpiper.

The Rock Pipit was very lively with wing and diving displays suggesting spring was just around the corner! In fact there were a lot of singing birds on the Island let’s hope a cold snap does not put everything on hold! A bird ringed on the 30^th September 2023 as a 3j at the observatory silver ring number 2699305 with white on black AAJ was photographed near the beach huts.

A walk at The Hump had me hit the deck on a slippery path. Fortunately the camera seems ok after the tumble! The fields at Reap Lane and Barlycrates Lane were also checked before another mudslide up to the top fields at Culverwell. Plenty of passerines but not much else beyond two Peregrine working together to snare a Wood Pigeon who may have escaped the ordeal!

A catch up at the Observatory with Richard Sergeant (Tices Meadows) and then a late exit which spooked a Barn Owl which was eying up the moth lights in the gardens!

A visit to Portland is not complete without a trip to a chippy. There are a few good ones en-route home!

Dorset - West Morden - Eyes of an Eagle!

 An overcast and showery day saw me head to West Morden with Roly in search of a Little Bunting which had been filmed in the seed crop over the weekend. The search for the Bunting was not successful but we had a good mix of raptors during our search.

A one footed male White-tailed Eagle was the first entrant flying east at 1148hrs. The bird is rung with G463 and is part of a pair that is frequenting Poole Harbour. Eyes are firmly fixed on the pair for the forthcoming breeding season!

A couple of Red Kite visited the area sweeping low over the fields as they looked out for an easy meal. This species is becoming more common in Dorset as it spreads its range throughout the county!

A Buzzard and a late Sparrowhawk completed the raptor fest before the evening drew in. The days are getting longer allowing more time in the field!

Dorset - Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm - Ticking over at the Farm!

I always get a boost of birdwatching energy in January but the month always seems to fly by! I have found three new species for my own farm tally this year which has kept the momentum going into February! The second month of the year can feel a bit flat but temperatures have been high with 12c recorded today and anything could drop in!

A cold snap is predicted by the end of next week which will firmly fix my eyes on the farm! Cold weather brings geese and finches to the feeding stations! The River Piddle continues to flow as a potential freeze hits larger bodies of water!

The bird of the day caused commotion amongst the wildfowl as it circled several times above the meadows before drifting away empty handed! The Red Kite was not in a hurry keeping to a steady height as it eyed the birds below!

The Swan x Greylag hybrid also turned up today. This was its first visit of the year. It may suggest that different groups of Canada Geese visit the water meadows each day as this goose the Hawaiian Goose and other weird looking geese are not seen every day and they all associate with the Canada Geese.