It was another trip to Lodmoor this morning and I couldn't have asked for better weather.
Best today was a Spoonbill plus my first Brambling of the year. Other firsts for the reserve this year were a Green Woodpecker, Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
5 Little Egret
8 Grey Heron
1 Spoonbill
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Teal
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Marsh Harrier
Moorhen
Coot
Lapwing
Dunlin
Snipe
7 Black-tailed Godwit
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Gull
Wood Pigeon
1 Green Woodpecker
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
Stonechat
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Cetti's Warbler
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
1 Brambling
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
Reed Bunting
General Shots:
Ted:
Ships Today:
This is the LNG Tanker "Pan Americas" flying the flag of Hong Kong. At present it is anchored up in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here. Alongside it is the smaller Maltese Oil/Chemical Tanker "Monjasa Provider". More on this vessel Here.
Birds Recorded:
Cormorant
5 Little Egret
8 Grey Heron
1 Spoonbill
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Teal
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Marsh Harrier
Moorhen
Coot
Lapwing
Dunlin
Snipe
7 Black-tailed Godwit
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Gull
Wood Pigeon
1 Green Woodpecker
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
Stonechat
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Cetti's Warbler
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
1 Brambling
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
Reed Bunting
49 Species
A Mute Swan has a stretch, but what is that white bird to the left.
When it popped its head up it was a juvenile Spoonbill and my first for the year.
Here is the Spoonbill again, plus a Little Egret, Shelduck, Lapwing and Mute Swans
Gadwall in flight
A drake Teal
Resting up are a pair of Shoveler and a Lapwing.
I did wonder what put the lapwing up. A Marsh Harrier heading north over the reserve.
A few Lapwing put up by the Marsh Harrier
This one decided to lay low. Well almost.
Dunlin. There were ten here today.
Still plenty of Snipe on the reserve. This one is hunched.
Another looking tall and this.......
.........one looking more like a Bittern stalking.
Mediterranean Gulls.
Dunnock
So many Robins on the reserve.
And most of them were singing.
And really confiding as well
This one was just a couple of feet away. I might have to bring a few mealworms next time.
A short burst of song before it flew off to another perch
There were a pair of Stonechats by the hump. This one is the male.
An acrobatic Blue Tit
The buds are out and don't the Bullfinches know it. This is a female.
General Shots:
Top left is Teddy Bears Wood as seen from the reserve.
And across Weymouth Bay from the reserve is White Nothe.
The buildings on White Nothe are, on the left are the old Coastguard Cottages and the small building on the right the remains of a World War Two communications building. More on White Nothe Here.
Looking south across Weymouth Bay towards Portland
Ted:
Ted enjoying his walk. Not sure what he's discovered here.
Dogs on leads, that's what we will do Ted.
This is the Liberian Oil Products Tanker "Monjasa Promoter" anchored in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.