21st - 25th September: Dorset Birding

 A short holiday at Wyke Regis with Andy and the girls, staying at the superb B&B at the Vicarage -Thanks sis for having us all to stay!

We travelled down late on Tuesday as we all had commitments in the morning. A report of a Glossy Ibis at Warblington in Hampshire was too good an opportunity to miss, just a short detour from the main road, and we were familiar with the location, having seen Cattle Egrets in a field there in the past. We parked by the church and headed east, quickly finding the bird feeding in the first field we came across. We very nearly walked straight past, but I managed to spot it through a gap in the vegetation, head down as it foraged in the long grass. The bird looked a little dull, less glossy than previous birds we have seen, so I suspect it was a juvenile. Tim managed some photos, and then we continued on our way.

Glossy Ibis

We had a full day of birding on Wednesday, starting earlyish at Portland. As we pulled into the car park we noted a number of Wheatear and plenty of Meadow Pipits moving across the adjacent field. Surprisingly for Portland, there was very little wind, and conditions were pleasantly warm, despite the early hour. We strolled round to the beach, noting many Swallows lining the wires and circling the lighthouse buildings. Flocks of Linnets were feeding on the scrubby vegetation close to the shore and we frequently glimpsed Rock Pipits dashing around the quarry area and rocky coastline.

We attempted a seawatch, but with little wind and calm seas the conditions were not favourable, with the very few birds seen being distant, just a few Gulls and Cormorants closer inshore.  We walked across to the Bird Observatory, hoping for news of a lingering Wryneck or exciting arrival, but they had little to report, so we headed up the track and scoured the fields for anything interesting. A family of Kestrel were hawking over the fields and we thought we heard the cronking of Ravens, but failed to get a confirmed sighting. As we headed back down towards the car park, where we were meeting Nicky and the girls (plus dogs!), I spotted a Fulmar disappear onto the cliffs below us, where it settled on a craggy outcrop allowing close views, although care was needed by the photographers amongst us in peering from a descending slope close to the cliff edge!

Fulmar - note the tube nose!

A tip off from some other birders alerted us to a Little Owl in the observatory quarry. We had seen this here previously, but not for several years. It showed very well soaking up the rays from its rocky outlook.

Little Owl

For the afternoon, we headed into Weymouth, to visit the RSPB reserves. We started at Radipole, and Andy took us to parts of the reserve we had not visited before. This is a top site for Bearded Tit, but we have only twice managed to find them, and one of those was at a feeding table is the reeds outside the visitor centre. We reached the bird screen at the far end of the reserve and  I commented to Andy that the trouble is there are so many reeds, even if the birds were there you’d never be able to see them. This was the perfect cue to be proved wrong as a distinctive ‘ping’ revealed the presence of a nearby bird. Andy saw where they disappeared into the reeds, and with some patience and perseverance we managed a number of good views as they clambered to the top of a wavering reed for a brief pose, before dropping down out of sight or flitting rapidly to disappear inside a new clump to repeat the whole process. This was a new year tick for us all, so feeling suitably uplifted, we headed back to the car and drove to Lodmoor to finish the day. Apart from a couple of Great Egrets and a smattering of waders, including Dunlin, Ringed Plover and a distant godwit there was little of note, but overall it had been a positive, and tiring day.

The next morning we visited Tadnoll and Winfrith nature reserve, a scenic heathland where we hoped for Dartford Warbler, but no luck. Then it was onto Arne, where there were good numbers of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler active at the woodland edge, presumably feeding up before heading south for the winter. Sadly there was no sign of a Dartford here either, and no Osprey, just a lonely Buzzard, and having promised the girls we would be back for the afternoon,  no time to venture any further.

The weather was lovely for our visit, with glorious sunshine, but this was not really conducive to good birding. However, we enjoyed some lovely walks with the dogs along by the Fleet, stumbling across a small group of Oystercatchers feeding in the grass, as well as being entertained by the disappearance of Patch, more interested in chasing the deer than returning to his exasperated owner. We had a lovely meal at the legendary ‘Fat Badger’ and also took the opportunity to enjoy the art and flower festival in the Church. As always it was a privilege and delight to spend time relaxing in the company of family.