Dorset birding (4 Viewers)

[Paul Corfield]

Nice to meet you this morning Chris.

Highlight for me was seeing two Buzzards catching worms in the field where the horses are just at the start of High Mead Lane

After we spoke and I was walking back the other way by the quarry fence when I saw a small stocky bird with a long straight beak take off from the quarry and fly across the lake and on into the distance. Pretty sure it was a Snipe.

As I got to the end of the quarry fence there was a falcon sat in a tree and pretty sure it was a Hobby. Got a couple of long range photos, hope they show enough detail. After the lake I walked down to the thicket and took a few photos that came out well plus a fox looking for breakfast. See attached.

Paul.

 

[teamsaint]

it's a kestrel paul, sorry

 

[scary-canary]

Longham lake Sunday

it's a kestrel paul, sorry

He's right. Nice photos though, knowing how hard the equipment you are using is to focus! haven't seen the foxes there since the first time I visited the lake.
Still just the single pochard in with the gadwall and tufteds. I'm predicting the first rarity i'll finds at the lake will either be pied-billed grebe or american coot!
The only tick for me was wren today!!!

 

[Paul Corfield]

He's right. Nice photos though, knowing how hard the equipment you are using is to focus!

Ah, so a Kestrel, never mind. Thanks for the id.

The scope is pretty easy to focus on static targets as the camera flashes up a little green light in the viewfinder and makes a little beep when focus is achieved. Had a look at all the other pics I took today and liked these two. It was the only flight pic I got in focus. It will be much easier once my t-mount arrives this week.

Paul.

 

[scary-canary]

Ah, so a Kestrel, never mind. Thanks for the id.

The scope is pretty easy to focus on static targets as the camera flashes up a little green light in the viewfinder and makes a little beep when focus is achieved. Had a look at all the other pics I took today and liked these two. It was the only flight pic I got in focus. It will be much easier once my t-mount arrives this week.

Paul.

I still can't understand how the camera knows it's in focus if you're not using autofocus?!

 

[Paul Corfield]

I still can't understand how the camera knows it's in focus if you're not using autofocus?!

It's the only dslr I've owned so I don't know if it's the same on other cameras but the focus indicator works on this camera in both auto and manual focus. Just electronic trickery I guess but it's very handy.

Here's what it says in the Samsung instruction manual and this applies when the switch is set to manual focus.

When you adjust the focus manually, you can either check with the focus indicator in the viewfinder or use the viewfinder to adjust focus. Look through the viewfinder, press the shutter release button halfway and turn the focusing ring (or in my case I focus the scope). The focus indicator appears and you will hear a beep when the subject comes into focus. Use the viewfinder when the subject is difficult to focus and the focus indicator will not stay lit. �� The beep can be turned off. (p.161)

 

[Nina P]

Looks like the Longham Lakes do support some good birding then, I must admit I didn't know how to get anywhere near without causing a traffic tailback! LOL! I must admit I am getting some very interesting birds in my own garden. A lot of Green and Greater spotted Woodpeckers, and my husband got lucky this year to see 12 buzzards in the same thermal (makes you sick, someone who really fails to appreciate the birds gets to see the best throng ever!)
Paul I guess you don't see Hobby's after the hirundines have gone back, try next year. I get them nest over the field just at the back of my garden, had one obligingly sit on the top of one of the fence posts back in August. My garden is a good spot as the five fields behind get little disturbance, and we have ravens flying around us now, but when they are breeding I never hear them. Plenty of corvids, jackdaw, rook, crow not to mention jay and magpie.
The newest bird on my patch has been the Treecreeper, nicely showing on the base of the Ash tree in the drive of my garden, it wound it's way around the tree three times then flew across the road to the Greater Spotteds Nesting tree.
Whitesheet is another great place to go birding, the Dartfords are there along with stonechats, woodlarks, linnets, kestrels, hundreds of buzzards, curlew, lapwing and greeen woodpeckers also known to have the lesser spotteds if you are lucky enough to spot one.
Any of you seen the Montagues Harrier this year?
Have any of you been to Martin Down Reserve lately? I would dearly love to be able to go over that place but the paths are definately not accessable for me. Even the electric buggy can't manage that terrain!
Good birding to you all, I hope to finally get out to do some birding next Sunday, either Hengistbury Head, or Mudeford Quay, almost guranteed Egrets and Oystercatchers, not to mention the ducks!

 

[Paul Corfield]

Got to Longham Lake for around 7.30am. Cold and frosty with a thick fog over the lake and surrounding countryside but the fog gradually lifted over the 90 minutes I stayed. My dslr camera to scope t-mount arrived this week so tested it out on some flying shots and it all works really well.

Birds spotted around the lake today were - Reed Buntings, Stonechats, Herons, Little Egret, Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, 3 Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebes, assortment of ducks etc on the water but fairly low numbers plus too much fog to see all that well.

Some photos from this morning. Reed Bunting, Stonechat, Little Egret with the sun coming up and a couple of Herons.

Paul.

 

[scary-canary]

Longham lakes today

Must have missed you by minutes Paul. The lake was beautiful today but not many ducks. Great for photos though - here are my swan, stonechat and heron attempts.

 

[Paul Corfield]

Must have missed you by minutes Paul. The lake was beautiful today but not many ducks. Great for photos though - here are my swan, stonechat and heron attempts.

Yeah, I was just finishing as you were starting. As I finished I took a short walk down to the thicket which is where I saw the Reed Buntings.

I had to do a lot of photoshop work on my Stonechat photo as the dew shield on the scope had retracted which made the lens fog over.

Going to take a walk along the Stour at Canford Magna school early tomorrow morning for a change.

Paul.

 

[Paul Corfield]

Well I ended up back at Longham again this morning, mainly to catch some photos of the sunrise through the fog. It was a real pea souper over the water and surrounding area this morning, about 20-30m visibility at times and zero vis over the water. Once the sun was up it burnt off pretty quickly. Plenty of Meadow Pipits along the quarry fence. Got some nice photos as the light was lovely.

Paul.

 

[scary-canary]

Longham evening

I took this last night at sunset - it gives and idea of the site for anyone who has never been there but I really like the swan's expression. They are great posers.
Chris

 

[James Lowther]

Well it's not a report from longham lakes so i hope it's ok

but eventually got good views of the great grey shrike at morden bog near the gate on the main track to the south of the old ruined buildings.
Also a flock of 17 fieldfares, a few redpolls heard flying over, a pair of ravens, lots of buzzards, kestrel and sparrowhawk

 

[Nina P]

I quite agree with you!
My first Birding outing was today after a couple of years out through health problems, but got out the trusty scope and had about 30 minutes watching the tide coming in at Mudeford, boy was it busy there, I would never have had the chance to use the camera, as so many people would walk in front of me. I managed to spot a couple of redshanks, two little egrets and 9 possibly godwits, they could have been the black taileds but I couldn't really get a proper look as the world and their dogs would stop right where I was trying to have a go at ID's. Plenty of Oystercatchers, liitle Grebes, mallards, swans, and so many Black Headed gulls I couldn't possibly have counted them.
My best spot of Birds was whilst driving to Shaftesbury during the week, where I came across a filed full of Lapwings, I nearly forgot I was driving! The number of them was about the same as I used to see as a child in the next field to my parents farm, which became a housing estate when I was in my teens. I have never seen them in those numbers since, hence the near accident of the field full of them!
I must admit to being glad to get back into the old swing! Enjoy your birding all of you!

 

[Paul Corfield]

Well it's not a report from longham lakes so i hope it's ok

but eventually got good views of the great grey shrike at morden bog near the gate on the main track to the south of the old ruined buildings.
Also a flock of 17 fieldfares, a few redpolls heard flying over, a pair of ravens, lots of buzzards, kestrel and sparrowhawk

The more reports the better, it's up to people to make them. :t:

I may head out to Morden this coming week. The kids are off school for half term so I'll take them out for a good walk. We did Morden back in the summer but the mosquitos really ruined the day. Shall try and fit in a few outings to various places next week.

2 years out is a long time Nina but glad to hear you are out and about now. Get yourself a really loud airhorn on the buggy for when people stand in front of you. On second thoughts that would scare all the birds too, maybe a long stick with a sharp point and give them a prod. |:d|

Paul

 

[Wendy Morris]

Red Kite this morning at the bottom of Dancing Hill outside Sherborne shortly after 8am.

 

[Nina P]

Wow! That was a good spot Wendy, fantastic luck for you.
I have a particular favourite spot of a Montagues Harrier off a narrow road near Martin Down. I will not give the actual position as they may well get driven away. All I will say is that I have been lucky enough to get bombed by the male most years. My son was lucky to see the male when visiting a well known landmark, he was amazed to find out he had seen a very rare raptor!

 

[Paul Corfield]

Went to Morden Bog at Wareham Forest today. Spent a few hours but didn't see the Great Grey Shrike. Aparently it was only spotted for 5 minutes today. I saw two Kingfishers at a small bog pool. Nearly got a photo of one hovering but just missed it. Plenty of Stonechat, a few Reed Buntings, various tits, Chaffinch, couple of Buzzard, a Meadow Pipit and numerous Robins. On the whole though a pretty quiet day really.

Paul.

 

[Nina P]

Wendy, it was my turn todayoI was driving over Wingreen Hill and saw 4 corvids attacking what I originally thought was a Buzzard, until I glanced up again and found it had a forked tail3 Yesss! A Kite! Wonderful, I never realized they were so near! I had seen one in the New Forest a good few years ago, but today I was delighted!!
Great to see them coming down here now!

 

[Nina P]

:t:


2 years out is a long time Nina but glad to hear you are out and about now. Get yourself a really loud airhorn on the buggy for when people stand in front of you. On second thoughts that would scare all the birds too, maybe a long stick with a sharp point and give them a prod. |:d|

Paul

I wish I could make them realise they are in the way, but some people are just ignorant, if you ask politely they just grunt at you and mutter, "tough nuts!" I have come to the conclusion that people are just selfish in the majority, but there are some really lovely children who are so aware, shame they grow up!
Your children may well grow up to be the few lovely ones, as you encourage them to watch the wildlife, its the ones whose parents don't care, that give the most bother. My only grandson (6 years old) loves to help and has even helped push me around a store, he couldn't see over the top(b less him) but I managed to help steer holding on to the relevant wheel to straighten the drive.:-O