With one thing and another, including some hot weather and some hotter technical hitches, we have not done such a grand job of keeping you up to speed with the restoration, but here is the latest news...

 The work in the meadow to the south of north hide is almost complete and the ditches are lookig wonderful, already attracting little egrets, water rail and grey wagtail to feed on the newly created edges and wheatears…

Just a quick post to say there was a juvenile Black Tern feeding at Radipole Lake this morning. It was first seen at the visitor centre then was relocated at the buddleia lake where it fed happily for 30 minutes or so.

The Pectoral Sandpiper is still at the visitor centre as was a Green Sandpiper still. Also worth mentioning that whilst watching the black tern this morning I got three views of Kingfisher which should…

Only a day or so into phase two of the restoration and already things are changing fast.  We have a number of ditches that have been untouched for a long, long time, and the trouble with restoring ditches such as these is that they have developed a very special flora and fauna that needs that long established cover, and we don't want to lose those so, for these ditches, we are leaving 'bits' along the length of the ditch…

Last year saw the first stage in the works to enhance habitats at Radipole Lake by the creation and/or restoration of a network of ditches and pools across the site, the biggest piece of work the reserve has seen for over a quarter of a century and, yesterday, the diggers came back to finish the job!  When it is all over, in around 5 or 6 weeks, we will have a rich network of reed fringed pools, ditches, fen and marsh…

Radipole Lake has a good reputation for attracting rare and interesting Gulls. Over the years we've had several American species such as Franklins Gull and Laughing Gull which always attract a lot of interest. But probably my favourite gull that occasionally features as Radipole is the Little gull. It’s the smallest gull in the world and a great species to watch with its tern like flight. So you can imagine my excitement…

August is a very busy month for birds at Radipole and Lodmoor. Thousands of sedge warblers and reed warblers are heading south for the winter. But how do we find out where they go? Well, by ringing them of course. Bird ringing is something that’s done throughout the UK and the rest if Europe and involves placing a small metal ring on the birds leg. The ring is stamped with a unique number which allows us to follow an…

A common sight around the reserves of late for the early rising visitor has been the alarming sight of Anne - our most dedicated and conscientious Estate Worker - lurking in the undergrowth bedecked in a chemical suit, rubber gauntlets and goggles replete with knapsack sprayer and loppers. The purpose of this elaborate guise is the eradication of one of our most dogged and damaging 'alien' plant species, the dreaded Japanese…

The past week has seen an enormous influx of hoverflies on Radipole, (also elsewhere I'd assume but cannot confirm as I don't get out much!). I know very little about them other than they are flies that hover and make good photographic subjects if you employ a little patience.

Volucella zonaria (female) above  Eristalis pertinax (male) below.

Myathropa florea (female, summer brood)above; Eupeodes latifasciatus…

We are in the process of getting some new mobile interpretation around the reserves, and as the wild flowers are at their peak that is where we are concentrating our attentions for now. Nothing too flash - a name a photo and a little information. None of our library pictures of Hemp Agrimony were really suitable for this purpose so, Canon in hand, I ventured forth to see if, by some miracle I could fare better.

Given…

Autumn wader migration is well underway with plenty of Dunlin, Common Sandpipers and even a Wood Sandpiper recently seen at RSPB Lodmoor. Usually this time of year the first Little Stint would be due to pass through and on the 3rd August one did, but not any more! I saw the bird yesterday evening and took quite a few pictures and this morning birders had a real hard look at it and eventually decided it’s a Semipalmated…

The past few days have seen the emergence of some of our more exotic day flying residents in the shape of Jersey Tiger Moths. There are still a few of their more prolific cousins the Scarlet Tigers on the wing lending the reserves a splash of colour more commonly associated with tropical rain forests or coral reefs.

Jersey Tiger moth above and Scarlet Tiger below.

After a painfully early start to my working day I was rewarded with tremendous views of a pair of kingfishers going about their business at North Hide this morning. After about five minutes of watching them perched side-by-side, I summoned Luke and his camera from the office. Before Luke's arrival one bird landed on the roof of the lower tier of the hide, about a metre away yet seemingly oblivious to my presence - the…

Common Spotted Orchids are plentiful on Lodmoor.  This year it has been recorded for the first time at Radipole.  Volunteer Allan Neilson 'spotted' this one in the hedgerow on the Buddleia Loop.

The last of the Weymouth Wetlands orchids, the Pyramidal, are now coming into flower.  These slightly scented orchids are in flower from early July through to early August.  This orchid is easily identified by its pyramidal…

We have all been very worries about our Bearded tits at Radipole this year. Visitors often ask about them as the nature is well known as being one of the best places to bearded tit in the UK. It’s been quite depressing having to tell visitors that there’s only a small chance of seeing them. Our bearded tit surveys revealed only a few pairs compared to over a dozen last year. So why aren’t there many around this year?…

Bee Orchids were first recorded at Radipole Lake in 2006 and on Lodmoor in 1983.  Since that time they have been recorded every year on both reserves.  Last year was a record count on Radipole with a total of 32 plants found.  Lodmoor had 5 bee orchids recorded last year.

This Bee Orchid photo was taken by the path at Radipole Lake this morning.  It's the first one I've seen at Radipole this year and I hope there are many more…

This afternoon I recorded the first five Southern Marsh Orchids coming into flower by the path to the North Hide.  These orchids are the commonest marsh orchid in England.  Last year the total count for this orchid at Radipole Lake was 132.  These photos were taken in the orchid meadow last year.  Tomorrow sees the start of the second Dorset Flora Week run by members of the Dorset Flora Group.  Radipole Lake will be taking…