On Saturday OH and I went to the RSPB reserve at Radipole, Dorset. We were really lucky with the weather and spent several hours there. We started at the Information Centre where we saw gulls (various!), cormorants, snipe, mallard, tufted ducks, mute swan, morehen and a hooded merganser which has probably escaped from captivity but I thought he was rather splendid anyway.
We then wandered the pathways through the reedbeds and made our way to the north hide where we saw teal, shoveler and a grey heron.
I was told that a water rail had been seen earlier in the day and that a marsh harrier makes an occasional appearance but we didn't see them. Radipole also plays host to bearded tits but if they were there they were very well hidden so we didn't see them either. Along the way we had seen and heard robins, wrens and blackbirds and on the way back OH spotted a small flock of little brown birds in the reeds but unfortunately we couldn't see them well enough to ID them.
After a welcome cup of coffee at the Information Centre we drove a about a mile along the coast and had a short walk at Weymouth's other RSPB reserve at Lodmor which is an area of saltmarsh.
The light was starting to go but we saw teal feeding on the mud, shoveler, grey heron, a great white egret and a flock of godwit feeding in the shallows. I think they were black tailed godwit but it was difficult to tell in the fading light and anyway I'm not very good at Identifying waders. If anybody can tell from my photo I would be interested to know.
We had a very good day and I would definitely like to go back again soon.
There is something new to learn everyday...
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Hi SB, great photo's all! look like very nice places. I have family down there will have to pay them a visit, I think.
They look like Black-tailed to me, not so sure about the two in the back ground. They, shape wise look more like Snipe but hard to tell, even zoomed in. Not enough light/colour, soz.
Hope it helps :-)
John
For viewing or photography right place right time is everything. I'd rather be in the right place with poor kit than have the best kit and be in the wrong place.
Excellent photos SB - definitely look to be two places worth visitng. Thanks for bringing them to my attenton.
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Thanks both :-)
Well spotted John - I hadn't noticed that the ones in the background were different. They probably are snipe as the shape looks right and I did see some at Radipole. The people in the information centre said they had counted 30 that day. As the light was going I wasn't really paying much attention and just took a few last shots to see if they would come out. I must remember to look harder next time right up until it gets dark!
That's the problem sometimes isn't it? There has to be a clear cut either / or decision - do I photograph this or do I watch it? - where doing both isn't an option. That has happened to me on many an occasion.
Wow! Great set of pics SB!! Glad you had a good day there! Thanks for sharing! (I agree with black tailed godwits and snipe btw!)
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
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Thanks for sharing your lovely photographs SB. Sounds like you really enjoyed your day.
Hi
Great pics. The heron in particular is a super action shot!
Just to confirm the identity of your waders, the one conclusive feature that is definitely visible on your picture of the godwits is their rather plain, unpatterned backs - which shows they are black-tails and not bar-tails. Godwits are a tricky pair of species. Together with the plain backs the other feature to look for is the broad white stripe in the wing of black-tails (bar-tails have plain brown wings). In a flying bird it couldn't be more obvious, and usually if you watch a resting bird for long enough it'll show you a glimpse of the wing bar.
Lots of books mention beak length and leg length but these are not always easy to gauge unless both species are side by side. Plus there is quite a lot of variation in bill length between sexes and between different races of godwits as well!
Colin, Thank you very much for confirming that they are black-tails and taking the time to give some helpful tips on ID. I'l keep your notes for future reference. They are very elegant birds and I wish I had seen them in better light and paid more attention. Ah well, it's a good excuse to visit the south coast again!
Thanks all for your kind comments and yes, we had a very good day. When I get a minute I'll post a few more photos in the galleries.
I have just bought some new binoculars (Viking Vistron 8 x 42) so I shall make sure to use them well next time I go to Radipole, or anywhere else for that matter. I found it hard going with the small ones I had been using and tended to leave them in my pocket and use the camera instead. Trouble is I want to do both! Choices, choices!!!
Nice to look back