Beautiful day in Weymouth. Up at the Viewing Shellter, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Kestrel were seen scanning the skies. A Water Rail skulking in the reeds, Little Grebe, Black Tailed Godwits, Grey Heron, Teal, Gadwall, paddling around the lake. Lots of butterflies and dragonflies are still on the wing in the hedgerows. The Star of the Show again has been our resident Kingfisher, regularly landing on the perches outside the Discovery Centre delighting our visitors today.
Today the Kingfisher was closed enough to be snapped on a mobile phone. How many other places can you watch Kingfishers darting across the lake while having a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake?
Last week Lodmoor was very busy with folk wanting to catch a sighting of our two vagrant sandpipers, the Least Sandpiper and the Stilt Sandpiper. Both have since moved on but the Stilt Sandpiper has been found again at RSPB Lytchett Fields near Poole. RSPB Lytchett Fields is a great place for waders at the moment. How to get there: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserves-a-z/reserves-by-name/l/lytchett-fields/about.aspx
Also over at Lodmoor the Great White Egret is still with us and this week 2 Cattle Egrets arrived to keep it company. Our usual Little Egrets are also around and some folks were lucky enough to see all three. You can see the difference in size in the Little and Great White Egrets. The Little Egret is on the left and the Great White Egret is on the right.
Meanwhile over at Arne Moors today, a juvenile Red Necked Phalarope and a Grey Phalarope made a surprise visit.
Phalarope images: Fabian Harrison and Luke Phillips
For all the latest sightings, contact Radipole Lake Discovery Centre, details below or pop in and see us. Hot and cold refreshments, sandwiches and snacks available.
Telephone: 01305 778313
E-mail: Weymouth.reserves@rspb.org.uk
Website: www.rspb.org/radipolelake