31 Mar 25

Furzedown Farm, Tidmoor Cove and Lynch Cove

It's that time of year when our guests start to arrive at the caravan. So this afternoon Dawn and I did a bit Spring cleaning before the first guests arrive.

And afterwards as we normally do, we had a walk past the farm, both coves before heading back to the caravan.

With bright sunny conditions and the temperature around 14.0°C, I did hope there would be a few Willow Warblers and Blackcaps about. Sadly not and the best I could do was a single Chiffchaff singing.

Other highlights were 3 Curlew flying up the Fleet, plus a few Peacock and Comma butterflies.

Birds Recorded:
1 Little Egret
2 Shelduck
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Curlew
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Chiffchaff
3 Long-tailed Tit
Wren
Magpie
Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

A Little Egret in Lynch Cove.

It saw me and Ted and........

........took off with a hard bank to the right.........

.........before straightening up and heading towards Tidmoor Cove, where.......

.........it landed and started feeding again.

Just two Shelduck..........

.........seen. Both in Lynch Cove.

A Curlew flying across the Fleet.

And a Long-tailed Tit.

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon


Butterflies Recorded:
3 Peacock
2 Comma

My first Comma of the year.

Moths Recorded:
moth sp.

moth sp.

As above

And another viewpoint

Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)


Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)


Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:

Gorse Shieldbug (Piezodorus lituratus)

A Gorse Shieldbug (Piezodorus lituratus) on Gorse of course.

Flowering Plants:
Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Also known as Sloe
Cowslip (Primula veris)
Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna)
Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)

Gorse (Ulex europaeus)

My first Cowslip (Primula veris) of the year

Ted:

Hmm looks like Ted has spotted something.

30 Mar 25

Lodmoor RSPB Reserve

After a quick visit to Weymouth Hospital, for an X-Ray on my left hand to see how bad the Osteoarthritis is, I visited Lodmoor RSPB Reserve for a couple of hours.

A lot had changed since my last visit here, this time there were a lot fewer birds than before, which to some extent made it easier to see what was about.

Main highlights today were a Great White Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 32 Black-tailed Godwit, a Redshank and my first Greenshank of the year.

Also about were a good 10+ Chiffchaff, with several singing. No sign of any Willow Warblers or Blackcaps.


Birds Recorded:
1 Great White Egret
5 Little Egret
1 Grey Heron
2 Mute Swan
4 Canada Goose
12 Shelduck
Mallard
Gadwall
Teal
Shoveler
1 Buzzard
1 Marsh Harrier
Moorhen
Coot
6 Oystercatcher
32 Black-tailed Godwit
1 Redshank
1 Greenshank
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Wood Pigeon
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
10+ Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Greenfinch

The cob Mute Swan makes its way towards me. Sorry no food today.

A few of the 12 or so Shelduck on the reserve. There was no sign of the Ruddy Shelduck x Common Shelduck hybrid from my last visit. According other birders it has been visiting the reserve on and off.

Drake Shovelers with a female hidden far right.

This male Marsh Harrier was causing havoc as it flew over the reedbeds, especially with the Black-tailed Godwits and shanks.

An Oystercatcher in flight.

And two more close to the path.

There were I think about 32 Black-tailed Godwits stood in the shallows.

When the Marsh Harrier flew past they all took off.

When they landed it was all hands on to put those feathers back in place.

Red left and a Green right. Two shanks a Redshank and Greenshank. The latter new for year.

The same photograph as above but enlarged a bit a bit more.

And a video of them both together.

One of many Chiffchaffs on the reserve.

Butterflies Recorded:

2 Brimstone

1 Peacock

A Peacock. There were also two Brimstones about, but neither landed.

Bees Recorded:

4 Buff-tailed Bumblebees

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane and Bumpers Lane.

I was up with the sparrows this morning, but disappointingly there wasn't much about. Only highlights were the large number of Buff-tailed Bumblebees about, especially down Broadcroft Quarry Lane where the Wild Cherry and Sallow flowers were soaking up the morning sun.

Birds Recorded:
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
6 Greenfinch

A Collared Dove picks up a bit of nesting material and......

...........then decides looking for food is more important.

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon


Bees Recorded:
20+ Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
10+ Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) on a Sallow. Around its head are several mites which it was trying to brush off. The mites are harmless to bumblebees and are nothing but an annoyance. More on this here.

A Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) on an Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum)

Hoverflies Recorded:
2 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
4 Tapered Dronefly (Eristalis pertinax)
1 Syrphus sp.

A Syrphus sp.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
2 Spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)

My first 2 Spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata) of the year.

Ted:

Ahh. Ted isn't playing this game anymore!!

29 Mar 25

Wakeham

Sadly no walk today, so as per norm:

2024

Ted having a good run in Old Quarry Lane

2023

A wet miserable day

2022

A Ring Ouzel close to the Crown Estate Fields.

2021

A Ring Ouzel in King Barrows Quarry Nature Reserve

2020

A Wall Lizard in the grounds of St Andrew's Church

2019

A Rock Pipit at Church Ope Cove

2018

In the foreground is a Coot, the far left a pair of Teal and in the centre a Garganey

28 Mar 25

 Dorset Wildlife Trust Wild Chesil Centre

Yesterday and unbeknown to me and Andy, a Dotterel was just 300 metres away from where we were watching the Blue-headed Wagtail at Reap Lane. It was at Wallsend, but later flew off.

This morning it was relocated just a few hundred metres west of the Wildlife Centre here and I was very fortunate that it was still there this afternoon.

There have been two other occasions when I have narrowly missed seeing one. The first was at Bacton, Norfolk in the 80's and one in Oxfordshire about 12 years ago. Both times I arrived to be told I should have been here 10 minutes ago.

Well not this time!!

Birds Recorded:
1 Dotterel
2 Ringed Plover
Herring Gull
4 Swallow
1 Wheatear

Well there are a few people looking at something on Chesil Beach.

And from my viewpoint, which at the time was at Ferrybridge, I could just about make out two birds. Bottom left a Wheatear and centre the Dotterel maybe.

Having parked up at the visitors centre it wasn't long before I was able to see my first ever......

............Dotterel, which I photographed with my new camera and lens. A Canon EOS R5 MkII and a Canon RF 100-500mm Lens.

Here's a short video of the Dotterel using my Canon SX 70 HS. The only reason I took a video using my bridge camera, is that I still haven't figured how to get the best out of the R5 yet.

27 Mar 25

Out and About

Watery Lane

After missing out on the Hoopoe yesterday, due to the sea fog which blanketed the island, I was pleased to get a call from my good friend Andy to say it was still in the same location.

So with the weather dry clear and devoid of fog, I made my way round to Watery Lane to see my first Hoopoe for the year. I was very fortunate that I timed it when I did, as after 10 minutes of viewing it decided to take off and fly into the next field/fields to the west.

Birds Recorded:
1 Buzzard
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
1 Hoopoe
4 Meadow Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
3 Chiffchaff
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon

The field where the Hoopoe was located........

.........was just beyond the horsebox in the next field down here.

The Hoopoe in the fields adjacent to Watery Lane. (Muted)

Here the Hoopoe was spooked by some noisy Carrions Crows and flew off a short distance away.

Here it is with crest raised and in flight (Slow motion)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Reap Lane Barn

Whilst I was a Watery Lane another birder arrived just as the Hoopoe had flown into the next field. Hopefully she got to see it in the end. However she did show me a wonderful photograph of the Blue-headed Wagtail she had taken 20 minutes earlier in the ploughed field next to the barn at Reap Lane here.

Not wanting to miss out again I picked up Andy in the car and we both made our way to the field. Fortunately there were plenty of other birders there and after a good 10 minutes or so it popped up fairly close to where we were all stood.

Birds Recorded:
1 Buzzard
1 Peregrine Falcon
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
2 Skylark
1 Swallow
7+ Meadow Pipit
2 Pied Wagtail
2 White Wagtail
1 Blue-headed Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
2 Stonechat
2 Wheatear
Blackbird
5 Chiffchaff
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

The ploughed field next to the barn. In the background is the hedgerow, then the lane and then south of that the horse fields to the south. In the centre of the frame is the Blue-headed Wagtail.

A bit better with the image above enlarged.

Fortunately it came closer to me and not only was I able to get a better photograph, but........

...............also a half-decent video of it, even with the out of focus post to the left.

Also in the field were a couple of White Wagtails and Wheatears. Here is one of the male Wheatears close to the barn.

26 Mar 25

Out and about

Reap Lane Barn

With news that the Blue-headed Wagtail was still around, I spent a good hour looking for it in the ploughed field, where it was seen last. Alas it appeared not to be around but I did manage some good migrants with 1 Swallow, 10+ Meadow Pipit, 2 White Wagtail, 2 Stonechat, 5 Wheatear and 5 Chiffchaff

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull

Wood Pigeon

2 Skylark

1 Swallow

10+ Meadow Pipit

1 Pied Wagtail

2 White Wagtail

Dunnock

Robin

2 Stonechat

5 Wheatear

Blackbird

5 Chiffchaff

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Wren

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

Starling

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Linnet

Goldfinch

A pair of Stonechats

In the ploughed field were #1..............

#2

#3

.......and #4 & #5 Wheatear. And all males.

Ted

And Ted looking very clean after his visit to the Dog Groomers. I wonder how long that will last!

Ships recorded:

This is the British Trawler WY37 'Nicola-L' back out trawling along Portland's west coast. There is no info on this vessel but there is a close-up photo of her in Weymouth Harbour here.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Barleycrates Lane

With no joy with the Blue-headed Wagtail at Reap Lane, I tried Barleycrates Lane, where it had been seen a few days earlier. There was no joy here either but I did at least find a female Black Redstart and a couple of Chiffchaffs.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull

Wood Pigeon

Dunnock

Robin

1 Black Redstart

2 Chiffchaff

Wren

Magpie

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

Starling

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

This Robin was singing at the top of his voice. I don't think he could get his beak any wider.

And a female Black Redstart.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Watery Lane

Having missed out on the Blue-headed Wagtail I did at least think I might get lucky and see the Hoopoe at the north end of Watery Lane, where it had arrived a few hours earlier.

Nope that didn't happen either. As I arrived at the spot it had been seen earlier, sea fog rolled in and up & over the island, blanketing the whole area.

As I trudged away feeling a bit disappointed a Redwing flew past me and up into a tree in one of gardens nearby. It was there for a few seconds before flying down into the garden hidden by high walls. Well I wasn't expecting that.

Along Watery Lane were a few Chiffchaff flitting about in the Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) and a Rook was calling somewhere in the fog.

Birds Recorded:
Wood Pigeon

1 Pied Wagtail

Dunnock

Robin

Blackbird

1 Redwing

3 Chiffchaff

Wren

Magpie

1 Rook

Carrion Crow

Jackdaw

Starling

House Sparrow

Chaffinch

Linnet

Goldfinch

The field where the Hoopoe had been seen earlier. If it was still about it was well hidden in the sea fog.

And this Redwing...........

...........was a bit of a surprise, though not unexpected as it flew up into a tree in front of me, before diving down into somebodies back garden.