Welcome back, intrepid readers, to a monster day out. Part One Here where you will find the background, some waders, ducks, butterflies and even a sheep!
So I left Lodmore as planned, and headed just round the corner to Radipole, slightly disappointed at no Marsh Harriers, but over the moon at all the other species, and hopeful that if the Marshies weren't at one, they would be at the other.
Crossing the bridge by the visitor centre, amongst the ducks, was a Great Crested Grebe in inflatable dinghy form
And a little further out a Cormorant, either with Mumps, or he'd just snaffled breakfast
Following last weeks' success with the Migrant Hawker in flight, I was a little disappointed to only get one vaguely in focus this week lol
Overhead something caught my eye, a rarity for me, a Hobby
Then something I'd never seen before, in-flight meal
There was rumour of some Cattle Egret around by the viewing screen, so I pootled round there, and on the way there was another Darter
An intricately patterned Gadwall
I don't recall seeing "teenage" Great Crested Grebes before, but two of the little humbugs were mooching about separately
There were a number of other Common Darters about, and also a couple of Speckled Wood and on the approach to the viewing screen a swarm of Sand Martins, and in their midst I saw at least two swallows
I loitered for a short while at the screen, scanning for the Cattle Egrets with some other equally hopeful folk, but to no avail, so decided it was time to head for The Fleet, and hopefully a waderfest, the disappointing lack of Marsh Harrier alleviated completely by the Hobby
Ten minutes down the road, and at the car park, before I even got a ticket fluttering caught my eye, just the other side of the road....
I got my ticket, and then headed towards the mudflat, avoiding the hoard of school children that were obviously on a field trip. Thankfully they were heading over Chesil shingle, not toward the mud!
At first I thought the movement I was seeing was pipits, but I think now they are Skylarks (must admit, I thought they would have migrated long ago)
And in amongst them a single Pied Waggie
I'm not sure if the Godwits stalked me, but a familiar looking pair were feeding
I was a little disappointed as I wandered the edge of the mudflats, as besides the Godwits I could see nothing but a flock of gulls. Slowly as I got nearer (and remembering my previous thoughts about how teeny tiny some of our waders are) I could see flitting movements out on the flats. I didn't want to try getting too close, so some distant shots of Dunlin, Sanderling and Ringed Plover... there were also some Turnstones, but not even vaguely in camera distance
I headed back towards the visitor centre, to try my luck the other side of the mudflats, and a flying flash of white caught my eye...Wheatear bum!
As I looked back over the mud, something had caused the gulls to rise up!
And looking back. another Skylark caught my eye
You may remember a couple of weeks ago my sisters absolute Kestrel failure whilst she had my big lens (redeemed by the Wryneck she spotted)... well this time I had no excuse, as two very obliging Kestrels hovered, and generally did Kestrel stuff, for my delectation and delight!
You don't realise actually how small they are until they're perched
And on that note, I decided it wasn't going to get much better than that, and headed home.
So target birds... Owls, Marsh harriers and Bearded Tits....
....Success at finding target birds = 0.....
...Quality of the day 10/10!
As I said...have you ever had one of those days!!??
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed
Stay Safe All
PimperneBloke said:Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed
PimperneBloke said:Crossing the bridge by the visitor centre,
What wonderful captures,
Thank you so much PB,
Love the commentary and (view across the mud flats, for this arm chair viewer, )now unable to visit the wonderful reserves,it is welcoming to be able to enjoy glimpse ,of your journey and of their habitat.
Look forward to your next escape CHOL:):) Enjoy and Thanks again.
Another fabulous et of photos, and another good day out PB, and well done seeing the adolescent GCG's.