Hi all, we have just spent a few days away in Dorset visiting Abbotsbury Swannery, Brownsea island, RSPB Radipole Lake and Lodmoor. I like to visit Brownsea annually,it is such a wonderful reserve with lots to see so here's a few photos of my visit
This year I tried to time my visit to see the breeding Common and Sandwich Terns on Brownsea and I wasn't disappointed -such a wonderful sight and sound. They were constantly bringing in fish and sand eels
It was difficult to isolate one family as they were so closely packed together along with nesting BH Gulls
The Common Tern colony was a bit further away then the sandwich terns and a lot quieter !
there are large numbers of BH Gulls nesting in the reedbeds and on the shingle tern islands and a lot of youngsters around
lastly, gorgeous Red Squirrel on brownsea -we saw at least 8
Next a few from Abbotsbury Swannery - it was busy there with some big cygnets to nesting swans on eggs - I was surprised to see nests so close right next to the footpath in some cases!
I spotted this little fella under the bird feeders -wondered if it was a vole of some kind,it was tiny in size ??
Next a few from RSPB Radipole lake-I really liked this reserve, lots to see and well set out. This reed Warbler was up singing ,shame about the twigs!
and Cetti's Warbler all over the reserve
Cute little duckling having a snooze on a log
There were huge numbers of Swift over the reserve
Best wishes, Jayne
Fabulous set of species and photos Jayne, hard to pick a favourite amongst those beauties. Well done on catching the Cetti's warbler long enough for a photo, they are usually so elusive and love the little red squiggle ! Your vole may be a Field Vole if you said it was quite small as I think the Bank Vole is larger.