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Dorset birding (1 Viewer)

tjbirdofprey

Dorset birder in Spain
going birding today (finally!!) the only reason i am posting is because i have got this gut feeling i am going to find a rarity:-O maybe a Goden eagle,monty harrier,Golden oriole or something much better;)
 

scary-canary

Canaries forever... and i'm not always scary, some
Spent a very pleasant hour at Martin Down this morning - eventually catching up with turtle dove in the car park - first I have seen in England for a couple of years, yet they used to seem so common.
Also nice yellowhammer.
Chris
 

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tjbirdofprey

Dorset birder in Spain
Spent a very pleasant hour at Martin Down this morning - eventually catching up with turtle dove in the car park - first I have seen in England for a couple of years, yet they used to seem so common.
Also nice yellowhammer.
Chris

nooooooooooooooo!!! how did you find Turtle dove?! man you are so lucky to see one!last time i went to MD me and my aunt couldnt see them but we could hear them:C ARRRGH i must be rubbish........

oh and good photos:t:
 
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scary-canary

Canaries forever... and i'm not always scary, some
nooooooooooooooo!!! how did you find Turtle dove?! man you are so lucky to see one!last time i went to MD me and my aunt couldnt see them but we could hear them:C ARRRGH i must be rubbish........

oh and good photos:t:

Actually they were harder than i thought. I spent about 40 mins walking up to the mounds and back and only heard them on the way back to the car. When i got to the car park one was calling well but I couldn't see it, then it moved, flew round in a circle, clapped its wings and perched for a good 10 mins in view where I could sneak through nettles to see it.
A really tough bird, but if you don't get it in the next few weeks it will stop calling and be gone.
 
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tjbirdofprey

Dorset birder in Spain
Actually they were harder than i thought. I pent about 40 mins walking up to the mounds and back and only heard them on the way back to the car. When i got to the car park one was calling well but i couldn't see it, then it moved, flew round in a circle, clapped it's wings and perched for a good 10 mins in view where i could sneak through nettles to see it.
A really tough bird, but if you don't get it in the next few weeks it will stop calling and be gone.

lucky! well i am going to go have a look for them next week:t:
 

tjbirdofprey

Dorset birder in Spain
yesterday night went to the back of ferndown school(on the heath)my aunt told me she had a lot of them there a few years ago......none were seen though:C but at least we came one step closer(we heard em churring)i wonderwhy they were not flying?? it was a bit chilly with only a few clouds in the sky(wrong time?) do i have to wait for a humid,cloudy night to see these buggers!..........

also we got there for 9.15 and stayed to 10.40.....
 

Flemingo

I'm always wrong and it's always my fault
yesterday night went to the back of ferndown school(on the heath)my aunt told me she had a lot of them there a few years ago......none were seen though:C but at least we came one step closer(we heard em churring)i wonderwhy they were not flying?? it was a bit chilly with only a few clouds in the sky(wrong time?) do i have to wait for a humid,cloudy night to see these buggers!..........

also we got there for 9.15 and stayed to 10.40.....

presume you mean Ferndown common. I was thinking of trying there just to avoid Holt heath. Glad I'm not the only one having problems!
 

Wendy Morris

Well-known member
Off out of county for a few days now....don't you dare to have a rarity here whilst I'm gone....unless it's near Lyme on Wednesday!;)
 

scary-canary

Canaries forever... and i'm not always scary, some
Highlights of an evening visit yesterday to longham lakes were a single male peregrine and a gang of fox cubs playing.
 
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scary-canary

Canaries forever... and i'm not always scary, some
FOUR adult med gulls together at Tarrant Rushton airfield this afternoon - slightly unusual location.
 

scary-canary

Canaries forever... and i'm not always scary, some
Probable Arctic skua from Hengistbury yesterday. Watched for about 10 mins but as with family only had binos and it just didn't come close enough. Would have been nice for the year list. Such is life.

What else could it have been? Unless you're stringing a Pom, which have been reported from Hengistbury recently. Tick it as a skua - I didn't even get skua sp last year!
 

Flemingo

I'm always wrong and it's always my fault
What else could it have been? Unless you're stringing a Pom, which have been reported from Hengistbury recently. Tick it as a skua - I didn't even get skua sp last year!

Certainly was Skua spp. but as I couldn't be certain it wasn't a pom due to limited experience at that distance and I already have pom (Portland) it wouldn't be right to presume it was a. n. other skua for the year list. (In my heart I know it was an Arctic but my mind wants proof!)

Does that make sense?
 

Mike Cross

Well-known member
hatch ponds on Springwatch at the mo i didnt know terapins have been seen there also once a caimon!!!

Reminds of one of my all time favourite pager messages which went something like. West Midlands. Crocodile at Sandwell Valley NR. No access due to danger of death.

Finally emerging from 2 1/2 weeks of birding inactivity only to find that spring migration is well and truly over. Hopefully will look for Nightjars over next couple of nights.
Have managed a bit of casual birding and the Turtle Doves at Martin Down have been good value a few times. Have managed to see 5 of the 6 British reptiles on general days-out over the period including (at last!) my very first Sand Lizards which were fantastic. I still "need" Smooth Snake though. Any tips (without hassling them) welcomed. Did have a 6th reptile courtesy of a Green Lizard at Portman Ravine, Southbourne. What a beast and a colourful (green funnily enough) one to boot.
 

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