There have been several notable bird sightings over the past month.  During the second half of September a Long Billed Dowitcher was seen several times over at Lodmoor.  On 24th September, visitors were amazed to see a Black Swan in front of the Discovery Centre window!  No rings were seen on its legs so it looks like a genuine wild Black Swan.

Photo Credits: Long Billed Dowitcher and Black Swan - Edmund Mackrill @Wey…

Wetland Management Works at RSPB Lodmoor, Winter 2019/20

The RSPB are planning some significant habitat management works at RSPB Lodmoor over the coming winter with the aim of rejuvenating the reedbed and enhancing the saltmarsh.

Rejuvenating the Lower Lodmoor Reedbed

Working with Dorset Council, a bridge and a sluice will be put in on the Council path that divides the reedbed at RSPB Lodmoor in two.  In order to do this…

After the heatwave over the August Bank Holiday, September has brought an Autumnal chill to the air.  Some notable recent sightings: a Great White Egret and 50+ Mediterranean Gulls at Lodmoor on Bank Holiday Monday.  On Thursday 29th August a Spotted Crake was seen in the post box pool on Lodmoor, the next day a Bittern was seen in the same area, along with 3 Great White Egrets, 3 Green Sandpipers, a Greenshank, over 60…

August is a normally a quiet time at Radipole Lake.  The majority of the Swifts, House Martins and Swallows have left on their migration. Many of our resident birds are moulting their summer feathers and have gone into hiding to stay safe.  We still have our Mute Swan families and the island in front of the of the Discovery Centre window is a welcome sanctuary for the Mallards, Gadwalls, Tufted and Shovelers in their eclipse…

The summer holidays are upon us, the warm weather bringing many families and holidaymakers from the local area and further afield to the Discovery Centre.  The reserve is alive with fledglings and our Mute Swan cygnets are growing up fast.  The Swifts have already left for their long journey to South Africa.

Among our current feathered visitors is a Wood Sandpiper which has been seen at the North Screen and over at Lodmoor…

Orchid season is upon us at Radipole Lake.  We are pleased to report that our Brown Bee Orchid (Ophyrs apifera var atrofuscus) first found in 2008 is now in its 11th year.  Two plants have bloomed so far.

Photo Credit: Edmund Mackrill

It's been a good year for the typical Bee Orchid with over 20 plants counted around the reserve.  Southern Marsh Orchids are not as abundant this year as in the past but over 20 flowers…

Activity around the reserves is increasing with the lengthening days.  Mallard and coot chicks are often at the duck feeding platform and many birds have been with food or nesting material.

The Ring Neck Duck has also discovered the feeding platform and is now frequently seen there or in front of the Discovery Centre window.  He also been displaying to the Tufted Duck females, if he gets lucky and produces a family we will…

The warm weather over the Easter Weekend brought the butterflies and the flowers out.  Hawthorns are laden with blossom, Cornsalad, Pale Flax and Ox Eye daisy are beginning to come into flower.  The Swifts, House Martins and Swallows are now busy flying over the lakes. 

Marsh Harriers have frequently been seen from the Discovery Centre window flying over the reedbeds and the Ring Necked Duck is still around on the reserve…

Spring has arrived at the Weymouth Wetlands. The reed beds and hedgerows are full of birdsong, Cetti's Warblers, Willow  Warblers, Chiff Chaffs, Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings all adding their vocals to the sounds of a Radipole Lake Spring.  The Marsh Harriers are sky dancing, Bearded Tits have been seen frequently flying low over the reedbeds.  Mute Swans are nest building and a pair of Great Crested Grebes are building…

It's been a cracking day for our Bearded Tits at Radipole Lake.  A flock of 10 have been very vocal and flying low in the Buddleia Loop reed beds.  Our visitors have been thrilled to have good chance of seeing one of our specialties.  The best place to observe them is on the double platform on the way to the Viewing Shelter.  

Photo Credit: Bearded Tit - Graham Jaggard

On 16th March it was Lodmoor's "Super Saturday".…

Spring is making its way across our reserves.  The Lesser Celandine is now in bloom by the riverside path to the Viewing Shelter, it's bright yellow daisy flowers peeping out from the grass and sedge.  The Blackthorn is just starting to burst forth in the hedgerows, White Violets have begun to appear on the Buddleia Loop, scattered on the path with the Scented Violets.  Read Dead-Nettle is blooming in earnest, the Alexanders…

Spring is definitely on its way.  Daffodils are starting to flower around the reserve, the ones in front of the Discovery Centre Marsh Harrier providing a warm spring welcome to our visitors.  Patches of dark mauve scented violets are in full bloom along our paths, the Alder trees are turning golden with their catkins, the Bay trees and a Hawthorn are coming into bud. 

The Ring Neck Duck is being frequently seen most days…

The beginning of February brought our first cold snap of the year.  On 1st February, Lodmoor had increased bird activity with over 500 Fieldfare, over 250 Redwing, over 100 Golden Plover, over 100 Meadow Pipit and over 60 Lapwing.  This was due to heavy snow further across the county.  The Yellow Browed Warbler also put in an appearance.  The Ring Necked Duck is still around at Radipole Lake and over 200 Tufted Duck, over…

Happy New Year from us all at Radipole Lake!!

The new birdwatching year started well with sightings of two Yellow Browed Warblers at Radipole Lake and a further one over at Lodmoor.  The Ring Neck Duck was back at Radipole Lake, also 2 male and 2 female Marsh Harriers and a group of 35 Pochards.  A Lesser Yellowlegs and a Ruff were sighted at Lodmoor. 

Photo Credit: Edmund Mackrill

Photo Credit: Martin Jones-Gill

The Ring…

Welcome to the last blog of 2018. Undoubtedly the star bird for this month is the Penduline Tit which was first seen at Radipole Lake on Friday 14th December.  The Penduline has been seen several times over the past week in particular in the reed beds near the Viewing Shelter.  Lovely snap by Graham Jaggard below.

Photo Credit: Graham Jaggard

Bearded Tits are also in abundance around the reserve at the moment.  Their distinctive…

Welcome to the new look  blog and community pages.  Apologies that it has been a while since our last blog.  A few notable birds have been around on both reserves since the last update.  Ruff, Lesser Yellowlegs and a Grey Phalarope were regularly on Lodmoor at the beginning of October. The Lesser Yellowlegs is still a frequent visitor and may well over winter in the area.  An Osprey was seen over Radipole Lake and Lodmoor on…

It's been a windy few days at the Weymouth Wetlands as storms Ali and Bronagh make their way East.  Surprisingly there are a number of brave butterflies and dragonflies around the reserve being buffeted about in the breeze.

The Little Egrets and Great White Egrets are still being regularly seen but the limelight has currently shifted to the latest arrivals on the reserve, the Cattle Egrets.  These Egrets are being…

There is an distinctly autumn chill in the air now as the summer starts turning into autumn.  Great White Egrets are still being seen daily at Radipole Lake and over on Lodmoor, often three birds are sighted.

RSPB volunteer, Martin Jones-Gill, managed to snap this one taking off outside the Discovery Centre.

Other notable sightings include a Spotted Redshank seen at Lodmoor on 28th August. Yellow Wagtails are regularly…

August is traditionally a quiet month for birds but we have been lucky enough to have one of our largest visitors, the Great White Egret, visiting our reserves this month.  A Great White Egret has been recorded daily over at Lodmoor since 30th July.  On 10th August two were seen and the very next day three were counted and were around for a few days.  On 15th August the Great White Egret was seen outside the Discovery Centre…

The summer holidays are finally here! Radipole Lake is the place to be for families on Tuesdays for the rest of August. The Family Fun day starts from 10:00 a.m. and runs through until 3:00 pm. Free games are available out on the patio, there's Splat the Rat, Giant Jenga, Giant Snakes and Ladders and Pebble Painting.  There'a also pond dipping and bug hunting kits available to go exploring out on the reserve.  After…

July has seen a very parched Radipole Lake and Lodmoor with the vegetation being tinder dry.  Several locations over the country have reported wildfires.  This week Lodmoor has been no exception.  On Tuesday 24th July, six fire engines attended a blaze which started at the Lodmoor Recycling Centre.  The cloud of smoke could be seen for miles around Weymouth and from the coast. Four hectares of waste ground around the Recycling…

There are three big items of news this month.  The first has to be the glorious sunshine and warm temperatures we have been enjoying over the past two to three weeks. The prolonged sunshine means that our reserves are thriving  with life and they are looking fantastic and colourful at the moment.  A family of Tufted ducklings have been seen on the reserve, along with Mallard ducklings and Canada Geese goslings. Also a record…

Spring has well and truly begun start after the cold, wet late start.  Thanks to the Estate Team's careful hedgerow management, the paths are now a sea of white froth with Cow Parsley lining the hedgerows and the Hawthorn Blossom. Amongst the white froth are splashes of colour from the purples, pinks and creams of Common Comfrey, also Yellow Iris, Marsh Marigold, Hedgerow Cranesbill, Common Vetch, Ground Ivy, Common…

Marsh Harriers - Latest News

One of our specialties, the Marsh Harrier, is frequently being seen around both reserves at the moment.  Nest building is underway with birds being seen carrying twigs.  There are two nests at Radipole and one at Lodmoor.  The females are likely to be sitting on eggs. The signs are good for a successful summer.

April Bird Sightings

The 1st April saw Garganey on Radipole and Lodmoor and the…

The Radipole Lake Big Spring Clean (aka Litter Pick)

Saturday 24th March saw a gathering of around 30 local volunteers to give the Radipole Lake Drive a long overdue spring clean of all the rubbish and litter which had accumulated alongside the road and edge of the lake. The volunteers first gathered in the car park for a preliminary chat and health and safety briefing by Dan Bartlett, Visitor Experience Officer. Equipment…