Dorset birding (13 Viewers)

[pooleparrot]

Agree with DD, Weymouth reserves are great, and obviously you might just start getting some early migrants at the Bill

PP

 

[pooleparrot]

GGS Morden Bog

A Great Grey Shrike was found on Morden Bog yesterday. It was still there this morning in the strong wind, just south of the Decoy Pond.

 

[kevparr]

Evening all,

I have a work trip to Dorset in mid-March. Working the weekend just by Hambledon Hill NNR by Dorchester and hopefully will take a few days off and stay a couple of nights down at Portland Bill.

Any tips for where to visit? Or should I just stay where I happen to be Hambledon Hill and Portland!

Cheers!

Wyke Down could be worth a visit if you are up at Hambledon Hill.

The shorties might still be around come mid-march and if not MArtin Down is only a few miles further on...

 

[kevparr]

A Great Grey Shrike was found on Morden Bog yesterday. It was still there this morning in the strong wind, just south of the Decoy Pond.

Lovely snaps Pooleparrot......might have to pop down and have a look.

Hopefully it will hang around through the stormy weather...

 

[pooleparrot]

Smew, Holes Bay

There has been a redhead Smew in Holes Bay for 2weeks now. It originally stayed south of the Railway bridge, but this week has started using the North East sector of the bay more. It now spends a fair amount of time near the end of the PCWorld outflow.

PP

 

[Woody1]

There has been a redhead Smew in Holes Bay for 2weeks now. It originally stayed south of the Railway bridge, but this week has started using the North East sector of the bay more. It now spends a fair amount of time near the end of the PCWorld outflow.

PP

Hope it stays until the week end I have bean meaning to get down there to see it but work and other commitments keep get in the way.

 

[Retrodaz]

Ooh, i will try and get down next weekend.

 

[JamesA]

Anyone have any more info on the great grey shrikes at Morden and Godlingston?

 

[pooleparrot]

The Morden bird was seen again yesterday in the area north of the "Decoy cottage" and below the line of Pylons that cut through the area.

The Godlingston birds last report was over the weekend, I think towards Greenlands farm end of the area although I think it roams across a large area.

PP

 

[devon.birder]

Just got back from a week in Dorset and Hampshire. On Friday afternoon I was at Stanpit when the pager reported a Garganey at Cowards Marsh. I have never been there before and I asked six local people where it was. They all said they had never heard of it so for future reference would someone please be so kind as to give me directions. Many thanks Roger

 

[DorsetDude]

Just got back from a week in Dorset and Hampshire. On Friday afternoon I was at Stanpit when the pager reported a Garganey at Cowards Marsh. I have never been there before and I asked six local people where it was. They all said they had never heard of it so for future reference would someone please be so kind as to give me directions. Many thanks Roger

Must admit, even though I have been "birding" for about 7 years round the area Im not really sure where it is either.
A quick google shows it is somewhere sort of between of St Catherines Hill and the Avon but not sure how you'd get there, parking etc, or if you're allowed to walk out onto it or not.

 

[James Lowther]

park where suffolk ave turns into marsh lane, walk north along track and look east from a gate by marsh house
cheers,
james

 

[devon.birder]

Thanks for those replies, not surprised that even a boatman didn't know where it was. Regards Roger

 

[MSA]

Does anyone know what's happened to the DBC website? Or is it just me that's having problems?

 

[Woody1]

Does anyone know what's happened to the DBC website? Or is it just me that's having problems?

I can not access the DBC on Google Chrome but can get the sightings page on internet explore .

 

[pooleparrot]

No access problems from my end Mark.

 

[MSA]

From dorsetbirds blogspot -

DBC WEBSITE
We currently have an issue with the domain name of the main website so until this is resolved it will not be accessible .

Sightings are duplicated on the BlogSpot, so presumably that explains the confusion!

 

[MSA]

Spring is springing (slowly) in Ringwood Forest and the general Verwood area, with Willow Warblers joining the Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps about a week ago, and the odd Swallow passing over. A couple of Med Gulls overflew noisily on Friday, a garden first. A glorious Sat afternoon walk with the dogs saw the first Redstart, a singing male, also a Woodlark, both alongside Bailey's Plantation. However, this was somewhat overshadowed on my arrival back home, when an Alpine Swift passed low overhead and away, never to be seen again! Not massively rare, but a great garden tick, and showing the potential of even a non-river inland site.

 

[Oldbirder Ray]

Nice ramble around Longham Lakes today. Very sunny, blue skies and mirror like water.

At least 6 Chiffchaffs , 3 Cetti's, 2 Reed Warblers and 1 Whitethroat all singing, 2 Swallows feeding. 2 Great Spotted and 1 Green Woodpeckers.

Lots of Tufties and Mallard (1 fem with a chick), a few pairs of Gadwall (Drakes looking extremely smart at the moment). Female Scaup around drowned willows on S Lake. 10 Canada Geese and 3 Greylags (with Swan flock to west of lakes). Only 2 pairs of Little Grebes; have these declined compared to before the S lake was used for "other activities".

Lots of Gulls mostly Black-headed but also 6+ Mediterranean, 2 LBB and 5 Herring.

Highlight was provided by 2 Whimbrel which flew low across the causeway, called and disappeared to the NW climbing steadily. They "may" have come up from the large island.
Also one small wader (Dunlin size) which flew low from S to N lake and back, distant silhouette only. Couldn't relocate.

 

[Wendy Morris]

First sighting here of House Martins this morning. Checking out the nests remaining on the houses in this road, not sure if they are 'ours' or not as yet!