Dorset birding (2 Viewers)

[Paul Corfield]

I wish I could make them realise they are in the way, but some people are just ignorant, if you ask politely they just grunt at you and mutter, "tough nuts!" I have come to the conclusion that people are just selfish in the majority, but there are some really lovely children who are so aware, shame they grow up!
Your children may well grow up to be the few lovely ones, as you encourage them to watch the wildlife, its the ones whose parents don't care, that give the most bother. My only grandson (6 years old) loves to help and has even helped push me around a store, he couldn't see over the top(b less him) but I managed to help steer holding on to the relevant wheel to straighten the drive.:-O

Congrats on seeing the Red Kite today Nina. I saw my first one here about 4 years ago on the Canford Heath Nature Reserve which is pretty much on my doorstep. Not seen one since then though.

Yeah, I'm pretty strict with my children in that they learn to respect everything right down to the tiniest little bug. They had great fun yesterday running around Wareham Forest. Whenever I give the signal they know to stop on the spot and keep very quiet as they know daddy hates to miss a photo. |:d| They found 3 great big brown hairy caterpillars which they picked up off the path and put back into the undergrowth. All through the summer school holidays we went out walking at places like Studland, Badbury Rings, Wareham Forest, River Stour and a number of National Trust parks. I can't see the point of taking them to any number of overpriced attractions, they are such a rip off. We all got to see so much great wildlife this summer and best of all it's all free.
My son is nearly 5 now and if you ever met him he would give you hours of fun. He's known as the charmer because he talks for hours and always seems to charm the ladies. My daughter is 9 and quite the opposite, quite shy and quiet.
Have you ever been to the stretch of the Stour by Cowgrove Road at Wimborne? It's maintained by the National Trust and is quite accessible to a buggy as it has a nice flat path with plenty of viewpoints plus there's a small carpark. I went there a few times this summer and saw 3 Kingfishers on one trip wich was fun. May take the kids down there this week if the weather is ok.

Paul.

 

[Wendy Morris]

Hi Nina,

Brilliant! What a coincidence for us both! I got used to seeing upwards of 20 a day when we lived in the Chilterns near to where they released then in the early '90s. In the 9 years that we've been down here I've only seen 4. The most spooky one was as I was driving back from a day in Salisbury and the weather conditions were appalling. Torrential rain, mist and strong wind all the way until I was almost back in Shaftesbury. I drove through what was like a curtain of rain into a clear slot and one flew across the road at no more than 10 feet up, majestically and slowly....best part of the day!

I must visit this forum more often!

 

[Glareole]

Well it's not a report from longham lakes so i hope it's ok

but eventually got good views of the great grey shrike at morden bog near the gate on the main track to the south of the old ruined buildings.
Also a flock of 17 fieldfares, a few redpolls heard flying over, a pair of ravens, lots of buzzards, kestrel and sparrowhawk

Hi all, from another Dorset birder :t:

James do you know whether this is the birds 'usual' spot? I visited Morden Bog today hoping to see it, but in a couple of hours searching I didn't manage to find it, but I didn't spend much time in the area you mention. I did see a few Dartford Warblers, one Raven and a Little Egret flying over.
Also could Paul's falcon be a female / juvenile Merlin? Something seems a bit strange about it although I'm almost certainly wrong!
Glareole

 

[scary-canary]

Also could Paul's falcon be a female / juvenile Merlin? Something seems a bit strange about it although I'm almost certainly wrong!
Glareole

It's a kestrel. Sorry.

 

[scary-canary]

windy and wet weekend

Quiet weekend birdwise for me - a walk along Hengistbury beach on Saturday afternoon produced one female wheatear.
Sunday afternoon the rain spoiled a walk around, you guessed it, Longham lake. Did discover a burned out car! Probably been there ages. Also saw my first rat at the site!
Long tailed tits in my Colehill garden were the birds of the weekend.

 

[Wendy Morris]

Popped to West Bexington this afternoon to watch the angry sea and had the added bonus of a selection of gulls performing on the wind. Some of the smaller ones were hunkered on the shingle, but a lot of GBBs were in the air and even landing on the waves. Quite acrobatic and fascinating to watch.

 

[scary-canary]

Surf scoters report

Anyone know more details on the surf scoters at Studland please? Good views, how far away and what's the traffic like round there - Wareham still a nightmare? Quicker to take ferry or just as bad?

 

[Paul Corfield]

Anyone know more details on the surf scoters at Studland please? Good views, how far away and what's the traffic like round there - Wareham still a nightmare? Quicker to take ferry or just as bad?

I'd be inclined to take the ferry to Studland. I went through Wareham last week and there were about 15 minute delays. The trouble is the roadworks are being done in phases and this week part of the road is totally closed according to the Purbeck Council website. See link below. The diversion is quite lengthy but straightforward.

http://www.purbeck.gov.uk/docs/86.07 Poster Notice - Roadworks A351.doc

Paul.

 

[scary-canary]

Longham lakes

Got a walk around the lake today - not much going on just a couple of wigeon and aone pochard in with the gc grebes, coot, tufted and gadwall. Did count 26 pied wagtails together in one field near the pump house and two stonechats.
First patch tick for me - lesser black backed gull.

 

[scary-canary]

Got a walk around the lake today - not much going on just a couple of wigeon and aone pochard in with the gc grebes, coot, tufted and gadwall. Did count 26 pied wagtails together in one field near the pump house and two stonechats.
First patch tick for me - lesser black backed gull.

Nice sunset too

 

[Paul Corfield]

Parked in the car park at the rear of the Bridgehehouse Hotel at Longham today and joined the footpath which can be found at the very back of the car park. Had a nice walk along the Stour and spotted a few Little Egret, loads of Long Tailed Tits in the trees adjoining the river, a small flock of Goldfinches, possibly 3 Kingfishers but a certain 2 and got some photos, 3 Grey Wagtail, 3 Cormorants and a couple of Herons.

Going to go to Hatch Pond Lake tomorrow which is only about a mile from me and shall see if I can photograph either of the 2 Bittern that have been seen there this week.

Paul.

 

[scary-canary]

Lonhgam lake

Great views of a peregrine over the lake today, then sitting on the new diggings and finally perched on a pylon for the rest of my visit. Other new patch bird for me was a male bullfinch.
Gull numbers were good with 30 black heads and three common gulls.
Other birds were three pochard one shoveler plus the usual crop of tufteds, gadwall, coot and grebes.
Green woodpecker in the horse paddocks.
The bullfinch picture is just a record shot (obviously)

Shame i can't spell Longham

 

[Paul Corfield]

Spent some time at Hatch Pond this morning. No sign of the 2 Bittern that have been spotted recently but a another birder pointed out to me where he'd seen it before.

On the far side of the lake I spotted a handful of male Teal, one male Shoveler, a few Great Crested Grebes, a Buzzard sat on lamp post overlooking the lake which was chased away by the gulls and a couple of Herons came and went.

Paul.

 

[teamsaint]

Spent some time at Hatch Pond this morning. No sign of the 2 Bittern that have been spotted recently but a another birder pointed out to me where he'd seen it before.

On the far side of the lake I spotted a handful of male Teal, one male Shoveler, a few Great Crested Grebes, a Buzzard sat on lamp post overlooking the lake which was chased away by the gulls and a couple of Herons came and went.

Paul.

Paul was it me who you spoke to I was the lad who told you where I had seen it before. This was at at about 12.

 

[Paul Corfield]

Paul was it me who you spoke to I was the lad who told you where I had seen it before. This was at at about 12.

Hi teamsaint,

yeah it must have been you. I was carrying the big scope with the camera attached. Did you see anything in the end? I must get down to Hatch Pond more often seeing as it's less than a mile away from where I live.

Paul.

 

[teamsaint]

Hi teamsaint,

yeah it must have been you. I was carrying the big scope with the camera attached. Did you see anything in the end? I must get down to Hatch Pond more often seeing as it's less than a mile away from where I live.

Paul.

no I didn't see it or much else except a couple of Cetti's and commoner ducks. Still nice to add another person to my BirdForum member list (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1052256#post1052256)

 

[Kev Rylands]

Apologies for hijacking the thread, but if any Dorset birders look out into Lyme Bay they may want to consider signing this petition.

http://www.joandjoe.com/cardsite/conservation/the_wildlife_trusts.php?section=environment:marine

Cheers
Kev

 

[Stevie babe]

Hi Kev,

As a regular visitor to Dorset (and a one time herdsman in that county as well) I have signed.

Personally I believe most of the coast of th UK - with a substantial region of sea - should be protected and I fully support the proposed marine bill, hopefully coming to fruition in the not too distant future.

Steve

 

[scary-canary]

Longham lakes

Beautiful day at the lake. Calm and warm after the mornings sharp frost.
Good numbers of duck present - 23 wigeon, 4 shoveler, 3 pochard plus the usual tufteds and gadwall. Several stonechats. New for me was a grey wagtail which flew in and landed on the shore.
Also great views of a fox sunning itself.

This report on the Echo website relating to the reef plan

http://bournemouthecho.co.uk/display.var.1836295.0.dredging_threat_to_rare_species.php

 

[scary-canary]

Also great views of a fox sunning itself.

Here it is!