Today started at the crack of dawn at Bardolf Farm on the water
Meadows. It seemed like another day at the office with all the usual suspects
on the meadows!
I was ready to move on from my watch point but something kept me there
and twenty minutes later a Great White Egret sailed into view flying low NW and
out of view. The bird must have been on the meadows but out of sight from
Athelhampton Road! This species is becoming more common in the UK. A bird is
regularly seen at Silverlake (Warmwell Gravel Pits) which is due south of the
farm but this was only the third record of this species on the Farm!
Thinking that would be it for the day I continued my rounds
visiting the Causeway pond where the Tufted Duck was still present with a surprisingly
high number of Moorhen. A Coot joined the huddle of birds in the SW corner of
the pond. This species is rare on the farm with irregular records. The bird disappeared
in the vegetation so I made a plan to return later in the morning to get
pictures.
I have been checking the gardens of Athelhampton house (which
border the farm) for Hawfinch without success thus far. A return to the
Causeway pond secured pictures of the Coot!
Time was moving on but instead of popping home for lunch I decided
to check the mixed seed fields before going home. I was counting the Reed
Bunting when a male Hen Harrier appeared quartering the west of the field. The
bird slowly wheeled across the track and continued circling low above the crops
eventually flying over the A35 and out of sight. This species has not been
recorded on the farm since the 1990’s!
A return to the water meadows added a Goosander and Snipe to the
impressive days tally! I finished the day walking the fields on the east of the
farm!
A day I definitely didn’t want to end!
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