Dorset birding (1 Viewer)

[pooleparrot]

Holes Bay

4 Spoonbill this afternoon and 3 Spotted Redshank close to the 2 outflows. The confiding Buzzard was performing again sat in a tree at the end of PCW outflow below the level of the bridge.

 

[pooleparrot]

Morden Bog

Amazingly 2 Great Grey Shrikes were present today on Morden Bog, there was a brief interaction between the 2 birds with 1 bird driving the other one out of it's territory, both birds were still there when I left. Also there was 1 Peregrine using 1 of the Osprey Nest trees as a perch and a small party of about 15 Crossbill.

 

[Woody1]

Wonderful photos, very nice to see a Great Grey Shrike, a bird I still have yet to see . The Buzzard is very nice too.

 

[kevparr]

I'm still waiting for a great-grey shrike.......I think a winter walk around Morden
Bog must slot into the diary somewhere....

A bit worried about 'our' female merlin. I haven't seen her for 10 days or so and though she might be a few fields away keeping an eye on the plovers, I worry that she's become dinner for someone else.
She spent much of last winter tussling with the local female sparrowhawk and they have locked talons once again but I am slightly more worried that the local peregrines have made off with her. The male has been particularly prominent.

All part of the great tapestry I suppose....

 

[scary-canary]

Five pintail among good numbers of common wildfowl at longham lakes today. Chris

 

[scary-canary]

Got a view of the black guillemot off Portland Castle at lunchtime. My first for England in 25 years birding!

Merry Christmas everybody who reads this thread.


Chris

 

[Woody1]

Had a good day at Arne on Coombe Heath, from the viewing screen,
C150 Avocets, C200 Black-tailed Godwits gave up counting at 200 still lots more about though, lots of Dunlin, Redshanks, Brent Geese, Wigeon, and some Teal along with Shelduck, Oystercatchers, and a lot of Lapwings up at the top end of Middlebere lake.

 

[scary-canary]

Oh what a Christmas present. Cracking views of the Brunnich's Guillemot today before I had to go to work. Not often I get a world tick in Dorset.
Chris

 

[scary-canary]

Saw it for the third time today. Keeps getting better.

 

[pooleparrot]

Brunnich's

Went for the 1st time this morning, got there at 07.30am and had a nervous wait until the bird was located at just before 9am just behind the leisure centre. Great views of the bird and also the Black Guillemot, popped into see the Glossy Ibis on the way back through Weymouth.

 

[pooleparrot]

Swineham

Went over to Swineham this afternoon to try and locate the "redhead" Smew that was found yesterday. Unfortunately had no luck with the Smew, but in consolation Jol found a Long Tailed Duck on the main Gravel Pit. Also had a couple of Marsh Harrier together over the reeds.

 

[Woody1]

Went for the 1st time this morning, got there at 07.30am and had a nervous wait until the bird was located at just before 9am just behind the leisure centre. Great views of the bird and also the Black Guillemot, popped into see the Glossy Ibis on the way back through Weymouth.

Very nice pictures like the Glossy Ibis

 

[Woody1]

Went over to Swineham this afternoon to try and locate the "redhead" Smew that was found yesterday. Unfortunately had no luck with the Smew, but in consolation Jol found a Long Tailed Duck on the main Gravel Pit. Also had a couple of Marsh Harrier together over the reeds.

Hope the Long-tailed duck stick around never seen one of these either or the Smew.

 

[pooleparrot]

Holes Bay

A new bird for my Holes Bay list yesterday with a 1st Black-Necked Grebe in the southern section of the bay. Also in the southern section were 6 Goldeneye and 3 RB Mergansers. There was an increase in Avocet as well with just under 100 in north/south bays.

 

[pooleparrot]

New Years Day

Well what a start to the year, the horrendous weather restricting the birdwatching to a couple of "car watches". Still some nice birds with Barwits, Sanderling and a Sandwich Tern at Shore Road, Goldeneye and Little Grebe in Poole Park. And bird of the day a nice adult Kittiwake sheltering on Baiter playing fields(Record shot in the gloom) Ended day on meagre 34 for the year list.

 

[pooleparrot]

Med Gulls

3 Med Gulls at Shore Road this afternoon.

 

[pooleparrot]

Bewick Swans

Saw the 2 Bewick Swan just up river off the Wareham Bypass this morning. Worth getting wet for!!

 

[Woody1]

Saw the 2 Bewick Swan just up river off the Wareham Bypass this morning. Worth getting wet for!!

Tried to get to see these afternoon ( hope they stay until next week-end) after visting Poole Park for the Goldeneye, but was unable to get there due to the bypass being closed as I left fleets bridge and had to turn off at the Upton turning:-C

 

[pooleparrot]

Studland

Had a trip round Studland this morning, couldn't locate the Surf Scoter however there was plenty else around. In Brands Bay 5 GN Diver, 6 BN Grebe, Goldeneye, RB Mergansers, Grey Plover, Avocet and all the usuals. In Shell Bay another 3 GN Diver, a female Eider, and on the beach 12 Ringed Plover, 25 Grey Plover and 40+ Sanderling.

 

[pooleparrot]

Poole Park

On the way back from Studland I visited Poole Park where a 1w Male Scaup had been found yesterday. It was still there today on Swan Lake with the large group of Tufties.