30 Sep 21

Lodmoor RSPB Reserve

As I was in Weymouth doing a bit of shopping, and it wasn't raining, I took the opportunity to have a walk around Lodmoor RSPB Reserve.

Ted and I were doing quite well and then half way round the reserve the heavens opened. Fortunately I came prepared and after both of us had put on our waterproofs, we carried on our walk.

Despite the rain and howling wind there were quite a few highlights, with 3 Great White Egrets, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Sandwich Terns and year ticks with both Little Grebe and Water Rail

Birds Recorded:
1 Little Grebe
Cormorant
3 Great White Egret
1 Little Egret
Mute Swan

Grey Heron
Canada Goose
Mallard
Gadwall
Teal
Tufted Duck
1 Kestrel
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot

2 Lapwing
3 Dunlin
15 Black-tailed Godwit
Black-headed Gull
150+ Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
2 Sandwich Tern
Wood Pigeon
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Cetti's Warbler
5 Chiffchaff
Bearded Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Starling
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

Two Great White Egrets and a Little Egret make their way across one of the lagoons.

In total there were at least 3 Great White Egrets on the reserve. Here's no. 1

And no. 2

And no. 3

An adult Mute Swan follows its cygnets

Just a few of the 100+ Canada Geese that came into land on the reserve.

Here are a few coming into land

This is the same video as above, but slowed down so that you can see a few of them "whiffling", where they turn upside down and then back again to rapidly lose speed and height for a fast landing. Whilst rolling their body upside down, they twist their necks to keep their heads the right way up.

This Kestrel was the only bird of prey I saw here.

One of two Lapwing I came across. I'm sure there were plenty more elsewhere on the reserve.

Here is a short video of it feeding close to the path I was walking along

You can just about make out a Dunlin behind the Mediterranean Gull

One of 15 Black-tailed Godwits here today.

Here it is feeding in the shallows

That bill is so black with mud, perhaps it should be called a "Black-billed Godwit"

In the foreground are 8 Black-tailed Godwits and quite a few Mediterranean Gulls. In the background there are a further 6 Black-tailed Godwits.

Here are seven of the eight Black-tailed Godwits in this "party"

I'm not sure what spooked them but here they are flying off towards Radipole.

In this, my final photo of them before they disappeared out of sight, you can just make out the black and white markings on their tails, that they were named after.

When the godwits were spooked, so were these Mediterranean Gulls of various ages.

Honest, these are 2 Sandwich Terns just leaving the reserve and heading out into Weymouth Bay.

A couple of brief songs from a very close Cetti's Warbler at Lodmoor RSPB Reserve

Fish Recorded:
50+ mullet sp.

Just a few of the dozens and dozens of mullet before the sluice-gate to the reserve.

Butterflies Recorded:
1 Red Admiral


Plants:

Maybe a member of the daisy family.

Here's a close-up. One to ID later.

Ted:

Oh dear, the look on Ted's face says it all. He's not a big fan of his waterproof jacket.

Ships Today:

This is the Liberian Oil Products Tanker "Fredericia" on its way into Portland Harbour from Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.