American Black Tern, Dorset & Patch

Date: 
3rd -10th October

Location:
Longham Lakes, Lodmoor, Newton St Loe

Weather: 
Sunshine, Plus Very Grey.

Species Highlights: 
American Black Tern, Grey Phalarope

Observation: 

A wander around the patch on the 3rd October produced a high count but not many pictures 47 species counted and this top little Stonechat, first of the year.

Work then rain for most of the weekend so Tuesday was next day out. 
An American Black Tern was showing at Longham Lakes, Dorset, so off I went (Lauren was recovering from a operation so I was on my own) after arriving and a short walk the Tern was obvious and a number of birders where lined up along the shore of the lake.

Struggling to see the difference between the Slimbridge Black Tern, last week I thought i'd do a ID picture to distinguish between the two similar species.

The light was tricky for the American Black Tern but the main difference is greyer under flanks and greyer head not black like the Black Tern.

  
A very mobile bird flying up and down the lake and in to the sun, but pleased with another new bird and year tick.

After spending a couple of hour with the tern I then drove along to Lodmoor to see what else I could add, Little Gull had gone but happy to watch the Godwits.

West path Lodmoor always good light and see close range birds.

After chatting to very friendly birders and searching for the elusive Grey Phalarope it suddenly appeared distant but you cant always see it like last year!

Huntspill 19/09/2018 100 mm

Med Gulls & Little Egrets looking great in the afternoon sunshine.

 Grey Heron was chasing the Great White Egret around the reserve.

1 of 2 Great White Egrets.

The skies above were starting to change colour from blue to dark grey, rain was on the way, last shot of the day was this handsome Black Tailed Godwit.

More heavy rain on the 9th so the 10th October was another patch walk, again not much to photograph but did a long walk hoping to see something good but Linnet, Meadow Pipits and this young Stag Roe was the best of it.

Plenty of Buzzard around patch counted 7 Birds this the Stanton Prior bird which always seems to come a bit closer then the Seven Acre birds.
With a few more ticks added to my #200 bird year, just 5 to go! (Lauren back out next week playing catch up, I hope)

Wayne Year Bird List: 195
Lauren Year Bird List: 182

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Large Tortoiseshell in Dorset

Date: 22th February - 28th February

Location: 
Newton St Loe, Chew Valley, Weymouth, Portland.

Weather: 
Blue Skies, Temps rising to high teens!

Species Highlights: 
LARGE TORTOISESHELL 
Lesser Yellowlegs, Chiffchaff, Marsh Harrier, Great Crested Grebes, Mediterranean Gull.

Observation: 
22/01
Our pond has been filing up with Frogs and spawn and Lauren took some excellent photos.

A short video.

Took her many attempts but worth it i think.

Monday was working from home so next outing was 26/02.
Chew Valley and it was extremely quiet from all the hides this Goldcrest was my only photo. 

With so few Birds around decided to go to Bristol Airport a coffee and sat on the roof of my van and watch some Iron birds.

Going through Twitter noticed a Large Tortoiseshell butterfly was found at Portland Tout Quarry....so that was my day sorted tomorrow.

27/02/2019 7:30am
Allan Chard arrived at my house and we drove down to Dorset, first we popped into Lodmoor, couldn't find the Penduline Tit but the light was fantastic and we walked around the reserve to see what was about.

Little Egret in the sunny blue skies.

 The long staying Lesser Yellowlegs was showing very well

Even a few Chiffchaff were around, but with my thoughts thinking i don't wanna miss the LT we headed up to Tout Quarry.

On arriving at Tout Quarry the normally small car park was almost full, parking up we started the hunt we saw European Peacocks plus a fleeting glimpse of a Small White but no pictures so I can't count, after 2 hours and scouring the quarry, chatting to many people we spoke to a non birder/butterflyer she said is this it ??? It was and we rushed over to the area she saw it. No sign, I wander over rocks looking, Allan and Merv stayed in that area and you guessed it it showed up right in front Allan! 
I headed back to see everyone's pictures AARRGGG!
Allan sat down Merv went, I carried on when suddenly I spotted 2 Peacocks fighting mid air asking another guy was that just Peacocks he said yes but seconds later he said no its here!!

My first picture some 20 ft away, but a Large Tortoiseshell.

Managed to scramble down for a closer look.

OOO nice, My 85th Butterfly worldwide and only second butterfly of 2019!

A comparison of Small & Large

Small Tort./Wingspan  Male: 45 - 55 mm-Female: 52 - 62 mm
Large Tort./Wingspan Male: 68 - 72 mm -Female: 72 - 75 mm

The Robin was wondering what all the fuss was about, a great day and great addition to my butterfly list.

My 3rd photographed species this year was a European Peacock, this takes me to 3 species and I have decided I'm gonna try for  60 UK/migrant species this year the hunt continues.

After that excitement we dropped into Radipole for another look for that Ring Necked Duck, no sign, but  a few other species looked great in the continuing sunshine.

Marsh Harrier

A Great Crested Grebe looking as always splendid.

Even a Mating dance although we lost view to the weed wiggle.

Herring Gull.

 This Dunnock almost at end of lens , no crop required.

We searched the Ring Necked Duck normal spots but only saw these beautiful Pochard.

On way home another visit  to Lodmoor and the gulls were coming into roost with a few Med Gulls.

2 Spoonbill dropped in just in view and a year tick.

The Yellowlegs was even closer.

It knows it a great looking bird, just checking out reflection.

The Yellowlegs always seem to be very close to it friend the Leucistic Ruff, what that saying.... different birds of feather flock together, well close anyway.

A fabulous week with my highlight obviously being the Large Tortoiseshell.

Wayne's Year total= 126
Butterflies = 3
Lauren's Year Total= 120
Butterflies= 2

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MY200BIRDYEAR completed

Date: 09-12/12/2018

Location: 
Dorset, Devon Newton St Loe

Weather: 
Overcast with a bit of blue

Species Highlights: 
Little Bunting, Black Redstart, Surf Scoter, Common Scoter, Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow Browed Warbler, Black Necked Grebe.

Observation: 
In the pursuit of my last 2 species to get to 200 for the year we decided on doing the miles Monday morning and headed down to Portland first Chiswell to be more precise and the Little Bunting which had been showing well, a early start and we arrived by 8:30am. Chatting to another birder and the Little bunting landed almost at our feet!

It made a few attempts to feed in the very busy Pebble Lane, cars, fishermen and people made it fly up and disappear but after 5 mins it came back.

A female Black Redstart was also flitting around the rooftops.

The Little Bunting is a First for me and Lauren and my 199th bird of the year.

As we had a few miles left we left after 30 mins and checked out Ferrybridge and Sandsfoot Castle, Red Breasted Merganser were the best of these location all very distant so we continued  on down to 3 beaches headland in Devon just short of Broadsands.

From the coast path we spotted the Scoters, 1 fw Surf Scoter, 5 Common Scoter. another life tick although i'm not counting it on my Life list as picture was awful!!
But counted it on my year list making 200 birds, whoohoo.
(lauren now on 190)

On a high we made the short drive to Broadsands car park where a Yellow Browed Warbler had be showing along with Siberian Chiffchaff. 
The chiff didn't take long to find we homed in on the birders in the corner of the car park on spotted it.

At least 2 of these in the bushes along with other normal Chiffchaff. 

Noticed this also, left hand picture from Devon / right hand picture from patch this year.  I think it's a Siberian Chiffchaff, only had one picture so won't add this year but, i'll look harder next year.

Saw the Yellow Browed Warbler a few times but couldn't get a picture, had brilliant views through binoculars, It all seemed a bit familiar as Lauren got a picture back in 25/10/14 at Radipole but his bird was still not on my life list.

So was very pleased to eventually get a picture.

These are Laurens pictures as it landed where she was stood!
So ended the day on 202 birds for me and 192 for Lauren a excellent day. 
Still a couple of birding trips left before the end of 2018 so still a chance Lauren will get the 200 too.

Back on patch but wednesday this week as got the dreaded dentist today, so wandered through Bath Mill with not much to report. Top fields again all very quiet, had a call from Tony and I knew Anne were out on patch looking for that Dipper so headed towards lakes.

In churchyard orchard af few bird were feeding on the fallen apples Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Redwings.

A single Fieldfare also, I wonder if it's the same one that seemed to stay in the orchard last year ??

30+ Ramblers greeted me at Waterfall, scarring away anything that would have been about.
so waited for them to move on .

Nothing much on lakes but met Tony & Anne and wandered up to where I'd seen Dipper, The Ramblers had just rambled through, just after they'd disappeared we heard a high pitched whistle followed by gunshots and gun dogs running around in top woodland, giving us little chance of seeing anything!! No Dipper was seen.

I left and walked back along back drive and was pleased to see a few Common gulls.

15 birds seen mixed up with Black Headed. 
That was almost all until I could see my house and crossing the Brook in Bath Mill a Little Egret took flight! A neighbour told me 2 weeks ago he'd saw an all white heron on brook so very pleased to see it so close to home.

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