[luke]

Can I add that if anyone does report a CR bird from Radipole (or Lodmoor) please CC myself in as we need to log the sightings on the reserve records. Quite a lot of foreign CR gull records don't seem to get submitted to BTO if the original ringer is only contacted so we keep a database with the information which gets submitted to the BTO. my email address is luke.phillips@rspb.org.uk

Its also really useful when we produce bird reports for the reserve.


Called into see this Blue-winged Teal at Longham this afternoon which obliged although the weather was awful! Was quite funny watching the Aythya flock trying to fly around in the wind!

[scary-canary]

Video of ferruginous type duck here. I took it on Monday. Thought please...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHnrkzTC6_k

Chris

[luke]

looks OK i think. Was hoping it was still there yesterday but no sign!

[scary-canary]

BW teal still present near bigger island. also water rail, kingfisher and a flock of about 80 fieldfares (but no redwings).
Chris

[dwallace]

I ventured into Dorset today. The new Weymouth relief road is a big improvement. We eventually caught up with the Richard's Pipit, which was favouring the fields just west of the Bridging Camp near Wyke Regis. It was very flighty but showed quite well on occasions.

Dave W

[Warminster Birder]

A male Hen Harrier flew across the A354 towards Wyke Down Sixpenny Handley mid afternoon.

[Warminster Birder]

The Great-grey Shrike still at Wyke Down Sixpenny Handley mid afternoon, also c40 Golden Plover over the A354 between Tarrant Hinton and Pimperne.

[Warminster Birder]

Short-eared Owls again at Down Farm Sixpenny Handley, we only saw three during our twenty minute stay, there may have been more of course.

[scary-canary]

Found a red headed smew at Longham today, and it seems that George Green found it too, probably just before I did.
In the same are as the BWT and last winter's smew were, so probably a returning bird.
Also 2 stonechats by the pump house.

Happy Christmas to all BFers.

Chris

[pooleparrot]

Went to Wyke Down for the 1st time today( thanks to Blandford Birder for info about the site), as soon as we got there we saw our 1st Short Eared Owl. We continued to see them on and off the whole time we were there, with at least 3 birds present(3 seen all at the same time ), also saw the Great Grey Shrike on a barbed wire fence. We alse had a nice bonus of a Ringtail Hen Harrier quartering the same field as the SEO's.

A total of 4 BOP's seen with Buzzard and Kestrel making up the numbers.

Record shot of one of the SEO's.

[Oldbirder Ray]

Brief visit to Longham Lakes yesterday produced a redhead Goosander near the large island. However wimped out when it started to rain heavily and missed Smew and BWT. Oh blow!!

Today visited Monkton up Wimborne or as it has become known now as Wyke Down. Stay from 10:45 to 12:15 in high wind and heavy rain showers produced no Short-eared Owls but excellent views of Buzzard and in a brief sunny spell a Great Grey Shrike showed superbly north of the pumping station. Even sitting in the top of a hawthorn in bright sunlight for us to scope it. Moments like that are why we go birding.

Good birding for the New Year to all you BFers from

Ray and Pat

[Larry Wheatland]

Is the Blue-winged Teal still at Longham folks?

[Oldbirder Ray]

Originally Posted by Larry Wheatland

Is the Blue-winged Teal still at Longham folks?

It was yesterday after I left Larry. Check Dorset Bird Club sightings tonight to see if anyone saw it today if no one gets back to you here.

Good luck, still yet to see it myself.

Ray

[Larry Wheatland]

Originally Posted by Oldbirder Ray

It was yesterday after I left Larry. Check Dorset Bird Club sightings tonight to see if anyone saw it today if no one gets back to you here.

Good luck, still yet to see it myself.

Ray

Oooo nice one Ray, that's good to know. Went to the lake today, but got rained out after a few mins. Hopefully get a chance to have another look tomorrow.

[Larry Wheatland]

Just been to Longham. The smart Blue-winged Teal still on and around the island in the big lake, with Wigeon, Teal and Gadwall (couldn't see it's Shoveler friend). Also 1 redhead Smew, 1 redhead Goosander and 2 Ad Med Gulls on the big lake. Then rain stopped play!

nice to meet some friendly locals too

[Steve Sutton]

anyone got any news on the Humes please thinking of coming down for it tomorrow from the midlands, thanks

[pooleparrot]

Wyke Down again today, Short Eared Owls didn't start showing until 15.30 today, but gave a good show when they did. Also 1 Barn Owl this evening.

Ian

[Oldbirder Ray]

Longham Lakes 4 Jan 2012

Pretty cold when the clouds and wind came in but birding good. No sign of Blue Winged Teal when we left about 12 noon but there were a lot of ducks sleeping on the lee side of the island, where there was also a pair of Shoveler and a female Goosander again.

Absolutely sensational drake Smew near the pumping station iron jetty in the south it even flew a circuit around that end for us. Apparently there was supposed to be a female as well. Also near the wood to the west of the large lake, some sound birders had found a 1st W drake Scaup, missed it ourselves talking to some guys from the Environment Agency who will be taking out some trees in the wood.

Ray and Pat

PS see BWT was seen later in the afternoon

[pooleparrot]

Baiter 04/01/12

50+ Brent Geese on the field with the Oyc's, Redshank and Blackwits.Also 2 Mipits.

2 GC grebes out on the water and a group of 4 Red Breasted Mergansers(2m & 2f) just offshore.

Ian

[scary-canary]

Got goodish views of the ring billed gull at radipole at Lunchtime, thanks to the guys who were about to show me - think it might have been you Luke? (I bought a tick list too!)

Would be nice to see it on the car park.
Chris

[dagoretti]

to all

is the blue-winged teal male of female ?

Miked



UOTE=Oldbirder Ray;2326135]Longham Lakes 4 Jan 2012

Pretty cold when the clouds and wind came in but birding good. No sign of Blue Winged Teal when we left about 12 noon but there were a lot of ducks sleeping on the lee side of the island, where there was also a pair of Shoveler and a female Goosander again.

Absolutely sensational drake Smew near the pumping station iron jetty in the south it even flew a circuit around that end for us. Apparently there was supposed to be a female as well. Also near the wood to the west of the large lake, some sound birders had found a 1st W drake Scaup, missed it ourselves talking to some guys from the Environment Agency who will be taking out some trees in the wood.

Ray and Pat

PS see BWT was seen later in the afternoon[/quote]

[Oldbirder Ray]

Response to

"is the blue-winged teal male or female ?

Miked"

Hi Mike

My understanding is that it is a juv female BWT. It seems to like the large island to the N of the large lake and is often (like others) with Shoveler. Yesterday I think it must have been kipping on the Island. Still yet to connect myself, going to give it another go this afternoon when the wind eases.

Good birding

Ray

[luke]

Originally Posted by scary-canary

Got goodish views of the ring billed gull at radipole at Lunchtime, thanks to the guys who were about to show me - think it might have been you Luke? (I bought a tick list too!)

Would be nice to see it on the car park.
Chris

It was indeed me. I remember you buying your ticklist! Nice to meet you!

[scary-canary]

Originally Posted by dagoretti

to all

is the blue-winged teal male or female ?

Miked

My understanding is that it's impossible to tell in this plumage.

Also I bet the pair of smew at Longham are the same pair as last winter, when the drake was still a redhead.

Chris

[Oldbirder Ray]

Originally Posted by scary-canary

My understanding is that it's impossible to tell in this plumage.

Chris

Hi Chris

Only quoting from UK400 site. Who am I to argue with Lee Evans.

Best wishes for the New Year.

Ray