The Autumn migration has started this week at our RSPB Dorset Reserves!
Our first Osprey Walk was a big success with 6 Osprey sighted, including one fishing, and our monthly walk at Radipole Lake had our largest turnout yet. We'll be running more Osprey walks at RSPB Arne each week in August, with the next on Tuesday 13th. Tickets are also now live for our Wildlife Lagoon Walks to see closed areas of RSPB Arne, and for our Bird Ringing Demonstrations and Guided Walks at our Dorset Bird Fair in September!
Don't forget you can travel to RSPB Arne by Shuttle Bus every Wednesday and Sunday this Summer, timetable: DCT Service 2RN, 2024 Summer Timetable.xlsx (ectcharity.co.uk)
Photo above: Osprey in flight with a fish by Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Our Warden team this week will be fixing perch posts at Radipole Lake, removing fencing and path maintenance at several of our reserves, as well as Dormouse habitat management.
At RSPB Radipole Lake and RSPB Lodmoor we've seen the arrival of more Lapwing and Black-tailed Godwit ready for winter, the Great White Egrets, Marsh Harriers, and Bearded Reedlings have also been showing throughout the week, while our Sedge Warblers seem to have migrated south for Winter. We'll be excited to see what species turn up on the reserve in the next few months on migration, with rare species appearing every year at these reserves.
RSPB Arne has been treated to lots of visits from the resident White-tailed Eagle pair, as well as lots of Osprey and Sand Lizards. Our Spotted Flycatchers have successfully fledged, and will soon be migrating south for winter. Several Pied Flycatchers have also appeared on migration, with Firecrests and Goldcrests appearing in larger numbers, and more Spoonbill steadily arriving for Winter. More Osprey will likely be moving through the reserve in the next few months, staying to feed and prepare for their migration.
Photo above: Firecrest by Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
If you'd like to keep up to date with what's going on at our reserves, take a look at our events page and follow us on social media:
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Events at RSPB Arne and Garston Wood
Events at RSPB Radipole Lake
Events at RSPB Lodmoor