Dorset - Warmwell Gravel Pits - Keeping My Wits About Me!

I spent yesterday morning at Warmwell Gravel Pits aka Silverlake which is due south of Bardolf Farm. I keep an eye on the sightings for this site as there is some interchange of birds between the sites. I arrived at stupid o clock to observe a mass exodus of birds including Mallard (over 400) and Goosander (14) who all flew west.

As the morning progressed the masses of Canada and Greylag Goose piled onto open water and islands. The site has been shaped with plenty of good edges to low islands since my last visit over eighteen months ago. A winding fishing lake and a similar boat lake has also been built into the eastern side of the reserve.

Birds of the day were five Black Tailed Godwit that took a look at the eastern lake and continued to fly SE over the pylons.

A Wheatear was also found on a small island with a raised pile of sand which looked like a Volcano.

A Great White Egret is still present spending the morning navigating the best areas for feeding in the numerous channels across the lakes.

Spotted Flycatcher was still present in Knighton Woods and a male Pochard and a handful of Teal were found in amongst the wildfowl. Common and Green Sandpipers were also noted along the edges.

A telescope is best as there are a lot of edges to check. I logged fifty species during my 4k circuit of the woodland and lakes.