Dorset birding (4 Viewers)

[JamesA]

I've had good luck with nightjars on Middlehere Heath, roughly here.

Also, we drove past this heath fire yesterday - hope the damage wasn't too extensive. Again, thought to be deliberate.

 

[pooleparrot]

Lytchett

Lytchett Bay 6am til 8am

Lots of smaller birds around on the walk down to the bay, Reed Warblers again showing well. On the bay a single Redshank and Greenshank and a Water Rail running up a channel. Also a young Roe Deer buck in the reeds.

 

[pooleparrot]

Morden

For the 1st time this summer didn't see a single Hobby at Morden today in 4hours.

Up at Morden Park Lake there were 2 Kingfisher, a family party of 4 Grey Wagtail, 2 Little Grebe families and a female Tufted Duck with 5 ducklings.

 

[James Lowther]

Lytchett Bay 6am til 8am

Lots of smaller birds around on the walk down to the bay, Reed Warblers again showing well. On the bay a single Redshank and Greenshank and a Water Rail running up a channel. Also a young Sika Deerin the reeds.

Hi ian,
that deer is a roe,
cheers,
James

 

[pooleparrot]

Thanks James, now amended, never was any good at deer ID, nor birds saying that!!

 

[Fozzybear]

I've had good luck with nightjars on Middlehere Heath, roughly here.

Also, we drove past this heath fire yesterday - hope the damage wasn't too extensive. Again, thought to be deliberate.

Walked around there last night and it was fantastic, loads of Nightjars all over the area! Thanks for posting that info. :t: Lots of Sika around, we saw a reasonable sized herd in a field just a little south east of the moor and heath.

 

[pooleparrot]

Morden

This morning 9:00am until 10:45am, saw a Marsh Harrier 3 times, once at Decoy pond, once at Park Lake and once over the heath by the pylons.

 

[scary-canary]

Longham lakes today

Best I could manage today was a shoveler, 2 lapwings and a little grebe.
Water levels starting to look more promising for returning waders. Still a swift and several swallows.
Chris

 

[scary-canary]

Longham lakes today

Not sure I have seen marbled white at the lake before, but seemed to be several today (slightly off limits I admit!!)
Chris

 

[pooleparrot]

Morden -Early AM

Morden at 6am this morning, Hobby Dartford, Woodlark on the heath. Up on MPL 2 Kingfisher 1 was presumably a young bird as it was calling for food from the other and also 3 Grey Wagtail. Also Spot Fly and Siskin with juvenile birds and good numbers of Stonechat and Reed Buntings.

 

[pooleparrot]

Swineham

The Kestrel family has now fledged with 3 young staying around the area, the GC Grebe chicks are now about half the size of the adults and a young Goldfinch was begging for food on a telegraph wire.

 

[pooleparrot]

Swineham and Lychett Bay

There was a family of Reed Warbler at Swineham , the young birds being fed in the reeds. Each GC Grebe parent bird had 1 young bird in attendance. At Lytchett 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel along with the commoner species.

 

[pooleparrot]

Holes Bay

5:30am start at Holes Bay this morning. Good numbers of Curlew(60+) and Redshank(200+) off of UCP, as well as a few Teal and a brood of Shelduck. In the other section mainly gulls and Canada Geese, lots of juvenile BH Gulls, also a few more Curlew and a few Little Egret including a juvenile bird standing next to an adult bird.

 

[pooleparrot]

Morden Park Lake

The Little Grebe and chick came fairly close to shore at lunch time today, and there are now two broods of Tufted Duck on the lake.

 

[MSA]

First good bird on Wick for a while this morning - a Stone Curlew, flew out of field by wooden bridge and up the Stour at about 06:20. Seen by another dog-walking birder further up the Stour heading back towards Harbour a few minutes later, so may still be in the area.

 

[pooleparrot]

Holes Bay

Additional birds at Holes Bay this morning were 4 Blackwit, 2 Whimbrel and a Common Tern.

 

[Joe52]

First good bird on Wick for a while this morning - a Stone Curlew, flew out of field by wooden bridge and up the Stour at about 06:20. Seen by another dog-walking birder further up the Stour heading back towards Harbour a few minutes later, so may still be in the area.

Are you sure it wasn't a "large pipit" |^|

 

[MSA]

Are you sure it wasn't a "large pipit" |^|

OOh - don't go there! I could tell you my thoughts on that morning, but then I'd have to kill you

Edit - for the avoidance of doubt, this is a light-hearted response, with no actual threat given or implied...

 

[pooleparrot]

Swineham

Gull roost numbering 300+ in the field on the river bend was made of mainly BH Gulls with juveniles and at least 5 YL Gulls. Also a common Sandpiper, showy Grey Heron and a good number of Reed Warbler feeding young in the bushes.

 

[pooleparrot]

Lytchett Bay

Although the High Tide refreshed the pools there were no waders on there this morning, just 50+ BH Gulls, 4 Little Egret, 18 Canada Geese. There were 3 Crossbills that flew over and briefly alighted in a tree only to move on straight away. Another big family group of Reed Warbler and a Juvenile Woodpigeon , much more attractive than an adult bird IMHO.