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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Dorset birding (2 Viewers)

Lodmoor and Radipole

Had a couple of hours at each of the Weymouth reserves today, 1st at lodmoor the highlights were 2 Spoonbill, 1Ruff and 1 Med Gull(Yeartick) also a nice pair of Bullfinch and 9 Blackwits.

At Radipole picked up the dubious Hooded Merganser(good enough for a Yeartick),other highlights were a pair of Kingfishers from the North Hide going in and out of a hole next to the sandbank, and a singing Cetti's in the top of a bramble bush. Also on the way to the north hide a Grey Heron doing an impersonation of a praying Mantis(photo below)

136 for the year.
 

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you must have been unlucky with the Glossy Ibis'. They were at the hide for most of the day but went missing from time to time.
 
Dulston

Durlston this morning, extreme fog made it difficult viewing. 3 Gannets East were all that could be picked out at sea. No Peregrines, Guillemots or Razorbills seen. Plenty of Fulmar and the odd Raven.

An interesting Herring Gull in moult between juvenile and Adult and a good comparison of Jackdaw/Raven size in the pics below.
 

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Nice views of the cattle egret at Kingston maurward yesterday and very brief flight views of the glossy ibises at lunchtime today. By the time I'd got my bins on them they had landed in the reed bed.
Chris
 
Terrific lunch hour in north hide, radipole. Kingfisher and water rail, topped off when two spoonbills dropped in, presumably disturbed from Lodmoor. Lovely summer plumage with breeding plumes on one of the birds. Chris
 
The Great-grey Shrike showing well at Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley this afternoon, also a male Wheatear and a Ring-tailed Hen Harrier.
 

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Good Day

Good day today , starting with the Cattle Egret(Yeartick) at Kingston Maurwood, then onto Portland where immediately out of the car the first of many Wheatear(Yeartick) popped up from the quarry followed quckly by a Male Black Redstart. There was a good number of Wheatear on the Bill, I saw about 40 in the shot time I was there, with 6 within 5 metres of each other.

Onto Radipole and finally caught up with the 2 Glossy Ibis(Yeartick) from the North Hide, hard to see at times in the long reeds/undergrowth, Luckily a kind birder pointed them out or they may have stayed unseen. After about 40 mins they did move out into a more open area and better views were had.

At Lodmoor a Marsh Harrier was quartering the reeds for all of the 30mins I was there and just as I was leaving a swallow flew over(Yeartick)

4 yearticks.

Ian
 

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Red Kite over the B3157 between Abbotsbury and Swyre yesterday morning. Looked magnificent against the clear blue sky.

Still no luck locating Firecrests at Abbotsbury Gardens, the words needle and haystack come to mind!!!
 
Morden Bog

Morden Bog this morning from 09:15am,normal woodland birds on walk onto heath from Sherford Bridge. At 09:45 a Red kite was viewed gaining height heading towards Wareham(only 2nd sighting at Morden). Then followed good views of a pair of Crossbill and plenty of singing Woodlark. Also saw Tree Pipit and a couple of Willow Warbler. Headed towards Morden Park Lake along the path by the decoy cottage when coming out of the trees the Red kite reappeared(@11:15am) much better views and some record shots achieved, it then joined 7 buzzards and a Peregrine!!! all in the same thermal.

Then even more of a surprise a Hobby went whizzing over,a very early record this year. Along with Raven, Siskin loads of Chiffchaff a very productive morning.

Yearlist now up to 144.
 

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Today

Added LRP and Water Pipit at Keyhaven, 146 for the year.

Went to Morden Bog again this afternoon, good numbers of Buzzard with eleven in the air at once at one point, Raven, Peregrine,Siskin,Dartford Warbler and a few Woodlark. Also a Swallow flying North low over the Heather.

In total 80 species recorded today.

No Crossbill seen today so I've attached one of yesterdays photos
 

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Buzzard

Saw this Buzzard today at Morden, it appears to have "Jessies" attached or it's caught a Snake.:-O

Anybody any thoughts?

Photo taken at distance.
 

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Morden Bog Again

Another successful Raptor morning at Morden Bog this morning, a Marsh Harrier jumped out of the long grass at the top end of the Decoy Pond and then briefly alighted in the top of a small tree before taking off again and gaining height and flying back over the pond. Also a couple of Peregrines and a Kestrel and obviously many Buzzards although not the "Jessied" one from yesterday.

Also a couple of House Martins flew over, 1st of the year.
 

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Could well be jessies but I guess there's a small chance of it being nest material that happens to be hanging in that way. Buzzards are certainly busy nest building at present.
 

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