Today was a day which started off sunny and then gradually became overcast, with rain bearing clouds. Fortunately it was also a day when I was up fairly early and was able to have a couple of hours walking around the reserve in the sun.
Main highlights were 80+ Common Terns and a very brief view of a Spotted Flycatcher. Both species my first for the year.
The water levels are well down and though there were plenty of Little Egrets and gulls, there wasn't a single wader to seen.
Another highlight here was my first ever Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense)
Birds Recorded:
4 Cormorant
6 Little Egret
5 Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
4 Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Teal
Moorhen
Coot
2 Oystercatcher
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
80+ Common Tern
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
15 Swift
1 Green Woodpecker (heard)
Sand Martin
House Martin
Swallow
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Cetti's Warbler
Common Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaff
1 Spotted Flycatcher
Bearded Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
2 Bullfinch
Reed Bunting
Reed Bunting
51 Species Recorded
There were quite a few Little Egrets feeding in the shallows. There was also a report of a Large White Egret seen at the reserve, though sadly not by me.
................short video of when something put them all up. Looking at the number of terns in the air, I'm wondering whether I may have underestimated their numbers.
Dragonflies and Damselflies Recorded:
......................first one ever. I wasn't 100% sure at first, thinking it might be a female Southern Hawker or even a female Migrant Hawker. However this plate "Here", shows the side profiles of a female Southern Hawker (8), a female Migrant Hawker (10) and a female Hairy Dragonfly (5). I pretty convinced that this is indeed a female Hairy Dragonfly
Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
General Shots:
Ted:
This is the only bit of the reserve where dogs are permitted to walk without a lead on. Though to be honest it's only short term as a lot cyclist use this track. For the time being, Ted is enjoying his little bit of freedom
Ships Today:
This is the Oil/Chemical Tanker "Bomar Jupiter" flying the flag of the Marshall Islands and is anchored up in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.
These two were displaying to each other in what I presume.......
.........was some sort of bonding. Soon after.........
......................one of the birds flew off, and.........
............the other Little Egret went back into the water looking for its next meal.
One of many Grey Herons stood close to the waters edge.
Mallard in flight.
Spot the duck amongst the drake Mallard.
I'm just guessing, but its quite possible this Oystercatcher is sat on a clutch of eggs.
A 2nd Summer Mediterranean Gull
Two Herring Gulls
A Common Tern comes into land. The individual on the far right has a small fish in its beak.
Common Terns do like a good perch to stand on.
And if they aren't stood around they like to fly around.
Here are a few more........
..............flight shots and this.............
There is always a Robin close-by when you walk around the reserve.
One of the 5 Chiffchaff I heard singing around the reserve
Lodmoor is an excellent location for Greenfinches. Here is a male on lookout duties by the looks of it.
Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense)
A female Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense), and my...........
Butterflies Recorded:
Orange-tip
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
Speckled Wood
Red Admiral
Orange-tip
Large White
Small White
Green-veined White
Speckled Wood
Red Admiral
A Speckled Wood
Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
A Marmalade Hoverfly
A Dead Head Hoverfly on an umbellifer sp.
The view looking across the reserve towards Nothe Fort and behind that the Isle of Portland.
There are at least two herds of cattle on the reserve.
Hopefully in the future, maybe they will attract a few Cattle Egret, a bird I have yet to see in this part of Dorset.
For the moment though they are attarcting a lot of flies which whilst I was there didn't go unnoticed by around 15 Swifts.
Here are a few more hidden in amongst the reedbeds.
Ships Today:
This is the British P281 Patrol Boat "HMS Tyne", anchored up in Weymouth Bay. More on this vessel Here.
This is the Bermudian Passenger Ship "Arcadia" moored up in Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here.