Dorset birding (1 Viewer)

[Paul Corfield]

Agreed Chris, it was a beautiful day there yesterday and I was there for a couple of hours with the wife and kids as you saw. I was there about hour before you and there were 4 Buzzards flying back and forth between the pylons for a while which was fun to watch and got some good photos. Also a Kestrel on one of the pylons and another one in the big Oak tree by Longham Lodge. Some lovely big Carp in that lake which came right up to the edges when we were on the quarry side.

Where abouts did you see the Kingfisher, that's something I'll have to look out for in future?

Really glad they have improved access to the lake now with the lanes being recovered. Saves getting muddy feet especially after the storms we had on Friday.

Paul.

 

[Paul Corfield]

Took my daughter for a bike ride on the Canford Heath Nature Reserve this afternoon as it's basically on our doorstep and we always see something interesting. Plenty of Stonechats in certain areas and saw 1 Dartford Warbler. Pretty much see Dartford Warblers every time we go over there now.

Paul.

 

[scary-canary]

Paul
I wasn't sure whether it was you. The kingfisher flew right in front of you as you stood about a quarter of the way along the far bank, near the corner where the fence is broken. I was looking towards Hampreston and heard it call!

 

[Dominic Couzens]

There's an eclipse drake Pintail on Longham this afternoon among a good selection of ducks: 5 Shoveler, 20 Gadwall etc, all very close and easy to see.

Lots of Chiffchaffs around, a few Blackcaps

 

[scary-canary]

longham, no sign of pintail

No sign of Dominic's pintail today, but still good numbers of ducks, 4 teal 10+ wigeon plus tufteds and gadwall. Several herons and at least 8 little grebe.


I went to portland/ weymouth today and , apart from finding a juveniule little gull at radipole and two meds gulls at fleetsbridge I saw a great big nothing. No migrants at all apart from Wheatears and grey wagtails.
Just my luck.

 

[Paul Corfield]

Took a walk around Longham Lake today. Usual numbers of duck which included Tufted, Shoveler, Wigeon, Gadwall, a few Little Grebes, Great Crested Grebes, couple of Herons.

Took this photo of a duck which I wasn't fully sure of the id. Is it just a Mallard with pale colouring or a variant or something else?

Also a photo of three Swans doing a nice fly by.

Paul.

 

[scary-canary]

Took this photo of a duck which I wasn't fully sure of the id. Is it just a Mallard with pale colouring or a variant or something else?

I'd say yes, it is just a pale mallard - they come in all shades when mixed with a bit of farm duck!
Beautiful light for photography today. I eventually caught up with the hoodie at Weymouth and got a brief glimpse of the melodious too. My year list is 172 and there are some shocking absences - most notably snipe and avocet! Hope to sort that out before Christmas!

 

[scary-canary]

longham lake, Sunday

Beautiful day at the lake this afternoon. Great views of a hobby, watched at close range hunting and catching dragonflies over the lake for about 20 minutes. Also two ravens calling and showing well. Several buzzards, and duck numbers still high, although most of the wigeon still in eclipse plumage.
A glorious spot for a walk.
Does anyone know what's being built at the southern end, where a large area of adjacent field is fenced off neat the pump house? Maybe something to do with all the work recently along the lane.

 

[Dominic Couzens]

I suspect it's the long-awaited Visitor Centre.

Good week at Longham. 4 adult Little Gulls flew over yesterday. 2 female Pintail on the ex-Quarry today, plus 9 Black-tailed Godwits.

Not bad for a site 6 miles inland.

 

[Flemingo]

First time at longham lakes on Sunday. Large numbers of coots, herons, little grebes, cormorants, black headed gulls, lapwing; various duck including wigeon, tufted, mallard, gadwall, teal, pochard; a few mute and a Buzzard. Horrible weather and 2 noisy children (mine!).Anyone know what is happening to this site. What's the small building under construction adjacent to the south shore and what is happening re the flodded workings. Are they still active?

 

[scary-canary]

First time at longham lakes on Sunday. Large numbers of coots, herons, little grebes, cormorants, black headed gulls, lapwing; various duck including wigeon, tufted, mallard, gadwall, teal, pochard; a few mute and a Buzzard. Horrible weather and 2 noisy children (mine!).Anyone know what is happening to this site. What's the small building under construction adjacent to the south shore and what is happening re the flodded workings. Are they still active?

The plan in the medium to long term is to flood it all. That should have happened this year but my be put back a couple of years. Good to hear of a fellow colehill birder.
Don't suppose it was you who had a nutcracker in your garden on Sunday?

Chris

 

[Flemingo]

OK you've got my attention. Nutcracker?? In Colehill???

 

[Grando]

I've heard that the Nutcracker was feeding alongside a Northern Flicker. On magic beans.

 

[scary-canary]

OK you've got my attention. Nutcracker?? In Colehill???

Herte what birdguides said for Sunday...

one reported feeding on a bird table at 3, Venator Place at mid-day briefly

if you see it before i do give me a shout! I'm guessing nutHATCH but I'd love to be wrong.

 

[scary-canary]

I spoke to the lady who saw the nutcracker today and she was certain that was what it was. For what it's worth (not much) I am unconvinced although i believe she believes she saw a nutcracker.
She told me someone had claimed another (or the same) along the cranborne road on Monday.
I'll be keeping my eyes open but I bet it's another that is never seen again. I am intrigued as to how the news got out, but the lady wasn't very chatty so i didn't press her.
Don't think i'm bitter - it is only a bout a mile from my house! (But I did see the staffordshire bird many years ago)

 

[Flemingo]

Went to Blashford lakes with my 2 year old son today. Have to say he behaved quite well until he fell off the bench in the tern hide. ouch! As he did this while unclipping the legs of my tripod while wearing my glasses and holding a pair of my binoculars he managed to maximize my distress. All glassware and son survived intact! I later failed to clip up the window in the woodland hide which then fell on my head. That window is heavy!!! Still did some birds including the long-tailed duck. Still failing to get the great white egret. Why did they decide to put one way, non opening glass in one of the ivy lake hides?? It gets steamed up and there is no way to see out! Probably a health and safety ploy to stop people dropping the things on their heads!

 

[Flemingo]

Don't now how to link threads but this is another birders report on visiting the lady with the nuthatch. Home > Forums > Rare Bird Sightings > Rare Bird Information > Nutcracker - Dorset. He seems more convinced I'll keep my eyes open

 

[peterbrash]

Not read the whole of the thread, but I used to bird Boscombe pier as a local patch nearly twenty years ago, (bloody hell am I that old?).

First visit, had 19 little gulls and within the first month had had three diver sp, slav and red-necked grebe, velvet and common scoter, med gull and found an alpine swift!

Other highlights later on were short-eared owl and woodcock in off, manx and sooty shears, ring-billed gull and ocean sunfish. Somebody else gripped me with an ortolan. Keep plugging away every day and it will produce the goods.

 

[Flemingo]

Nice morning at Arne today. Spoonbill and Mergansers amongst many others. No children today just a wife with itchy feet! No sighting on the nutcracker and I see other people have been searching without luck.

 

[scary-canary]

Longham lakes

cold and windy walk round the lake today - lots of duck but nothing unexpected. Nice group of long tailed tits and a goldcrest. if the building really is a new visitor centre then this could become a really good site, especially of they manage the new working for waders. Hope it doesn't spoil the intimate feeling of a nice local patch. This year I've had garganey, little gull, black tern hobby and a flock of yellow wagtails here.