Dorset birding (1 Viewer)

[DorsetDude]

Dropped into Middlebere hide Sunday afternoon about 3 on the off chance of a hen harrier. No luck but did see a yellow-legged gull perched out in the channel.
Hands up if you were one of the 3 green clad photographers in the hide then.

 

[pooleparrot]

Not me , green's not my colour.

 

[pooleparrot]

Out and About

A few areas covered this morning, highlights were 2 Turnstone in Holes bay at the end of the PC World drain(not a common bird in HB) and a single Spoonbill dropped into the channel and started feeding. An interesting bird with a large mark on the neck, could just be dirt or maybe feather discolouration, will keep an eye out for this going forward.

At Baiter, on the field the Brent Geese flock was up to 199 and there were 281 Oystercatcher including a bird with a dodgy tail.

At Hatch Pond the Shoveler count has increased again , now up to 11(6m/5f), also the female Pochard still there.

 

[Farnboro John]

Any estimate of how far way the Surf Scoter is typically? I might be tempted to have a look this weekend if I might get a pic out of it.

John

 

[James Lowther]

not sure about typically but on saturday afternoon it was at least 400m away at all times, but you could get lucky.
seemed to show better on sunday
http://petermooreblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/surf-scooter.html
James

 

[Farnboro John]

not sure about typically but on saturday afternoon it was at least 400m away at all times, but you could get lucky.
seemed to show better on sunday
http://petermooreblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/surf-scooter.html
James

Thanks James, much appreciated. I feel very sorry for Mr Moore!

John

 

[pooleparrot]

Studland

Watched the Surf Scoter again this morning from 10am till 1130, more distant today but better weather. It went missing after 1130 don't know if it was seen in the afternoon. Also in the bay 7 Goldeneye, 3 GN Diver, 3 Bar-Tailed Godwits and 2 Grey Plover.

In Studland bay there were 2 Common Scoter and 3 distant BN Grebe.

Ian

Ps pics attached Common Scoter (not the Surf)

 

[Woody1]

Went over to Brand's bay this afternoon Surf Scoter there again way off towards the castle. Had a lifer the Great- northern Diver also seen Goldeneye before the tide went out, Red-breasted Mergansers, Turnstones, Curlew, Brent Geese 16

 

[pooleparrot]

Middlebere

Male and female Hen Harrier were flying around together this morning, first they were on Hartland Moor and later at the hide. There were also 2 Marsh Harrier. Avocet numbers are starting to build with 295 counted , and well over 600 Blackwits . Also 1 Green Sandpiper and 3 Pintail. As normal good numbers of Fieldfare, Redwing and Bullfinch along the lane , and a large finch flock of 60+ birds, Goldfinches and Chaffinches.

 

[pooleparrot]

Spoonbills, Holes Bay

The Spoonbills were in Holes Bay again this morning, originally 15 then building up to a total of 19, not quite as many as yesterday's 27. They were feeding in the channel and came up to within 15 metres of the PC World Outflow at times. They certainly are using the bays a lot more this year.

 

[pooleparrot]

Also

There were also 12 Avocet in the bay and 11 Pintail, as well as lots of the normal winter birds.

 

[pooleparrot]

Middlebere

3 Hours at the hide this morning, tide was constantly out so there weren't a lot of birds in the channel. A Little Egret and a Green Sandpiper both visited the Pools in front of the hide, and there were a couple of Marsh Harriers around.

 

[Woody1]

3 Hours at the hide this morning, tide was constantly out so there weren't a lot of birds in the channel. A Little Egret and a Green Sandpiper both visited the Pools in front of the hide, and there were a couple of Marsh Harriers around.

You have some recent cracking pictures of the birds seen I like the Little Egret shot. I must try and get over to Middlebere as I have not been there always end up at Arne. Might try and get over this Satuday after the Poole Harbour walk.

 

[pooleparrot]

You have some recent cracking pictures of the birds seen I like the Little Egret shot. I must try and get over to Middlebere as I have not been there always end up at Arne. Might try and get over this Satuday after the Poole Harbour walk.

Thanks Woody.

 

[kevparr]

Merlin

A female merlin was near West Compton today - in the same area that a bird spent last winter so hopefully she is the same.

Anyone passing this way (between Dorchester & Bridport) would do well to nip off the A35 and have a slow drive along the Roman Road between West Compton & Compton Valence.
There is a newly sown field supporting 200+ golden plover, a similar amount of lapwing and loads of buzzards (normally at least twenty, but sometimes many more). With the corvids, gulls, starlings, pipits, larks, buntings and finches it makes for quite a spectacle...

best kev

 

[scary-canary]

Managed to track down this beautiful juv penduline tit at Longham today , after it was first seen and then later identified at home by Jackie Hull. Hope lots of people got to see it.
Chris

 

[Woody1]

Managed to track down this beautiful juv penduline tit at Longham today , after it was first seen and then later identified at home by Jackie Hull. Hope lots of people got to see it.
Chris

Would of liked to have gone to have a look stuck at work and not much hope of going till friday if it is still there:-C

 

[pooleparrot]

Penduline Tit flew off high in a SSW direction this morning just after 9.20am , not sure that we will see it again, watched it until it was a dot in my bins.

Ian

 

[Woody1]

Brands Bays

Out and about round the Bays on Saturday then over to Hartland Moor
Birds seen out in the bays.
Black-throated Divers, Great Northern Divers, Surf Scoter, Red-breasted Mergansers, Great crested Grebes, Snipe, Curlew, Shelduck, Wigeon, Little Egret, Marsh Harrier, Lapwings, Dunlin, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat and three Dartford Warblers.
Over to Hartland and another 3 Dartfords spotted.
Record shot of one of them.

 

[pooleparrot]

Middlebere

2 Hours at Middlebere this morning.

Low tide had 530 Avocet and 800+ Blackwit. There was also 2 Green Sandpiper in flight to the left of the hide, 1 briefly landed on the pools in front of the hide.

1 male and 1 female Hen Harrier and 1 Marsh Harrier were also present.