Longham Lakes

Had a good walk around the lakes this afternoon looking to what was about I am hoping that some Pochard will turn up but no luck with them, lots of Coot, Tufted Duck a few Great Crested Grebes and Little Grebes along with two Little Egrets abd three Grey Heron. Though the most interesting for me was the five Shoveler at the top end of the larger lake.

A view along one sied of the lake

Mute Swan reflection

An hour on the River Allen

Sunday afternoon I spent an hour walking along the river Allen and up along the farm track.
It was a bit breezy  and the was not much about along the farm track but high above the fields there were two Buzzards and a Kestrel . On the way back down the river I herd a couple of Chiffchaff so seached the trees and managed to find one of them high above.

Moorhen Reflection

Record shot of a Chiffchaff

Last suriving Cygent growen up now 

Brand's Bay & Middle Beach

I had booked on to the http://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/ guided walk with  Paul Morton for Saturday 18th 2014. The day dawned dark and very wet when I left the house at 7am to meet Paul at Greenlands Farm layby for 8am . By the time I had got on to the Upton bypass the rain was hammering down and I was beinging to think perhaps the day was going to be a wash out.
Though I need not of worried as by the time I reached Wereham the weather had started to clear and as I drove along Ferry Road  the sun had started to come up give some very nice colour to the sky as I drove to the location.
When every one had arrived Paul suggested that we go off to Brand's Bay as the Great White Egret was out in the bay and some members had not seen the GWE. So off we set to the hide and sure enough the GWE was out in the bay along with Little Egrets some Great Crested Grebes .
After thwe had been there a while Pual suggested that instead of going up through Greenlands farm that were head over to Middle Beach to look for the Black-necked Grebe, As I have never been to Middle Beach before and the thought of possible being able to see a YBW I thought it was a very good idea.
So I followed the rest of the group not know which way it was from the layby to Middle Beach
it was only a very short drive to the car park.
This was a good move as at this location I added to new Species to my ever growing Dorset List and all lifers. Scanning the sea I spotted Brent Geese, Black-necked grebe and my first Common Scoter which was pointed of for me. After watching the sea a bit we headed off down to the scrubs to see if we could find any Firecrests but had no luck with these, but heard and found Goldcrests and among a mixed tit flock along with a good number of Chiffchaffs then a member of the group spotted a bird that had two yellow wing bars, this bird  turned out to be the Yellow- browed Warbler a lovely little bird not much bigger than a Goldcrest and not as big as a Chiffchaff, That would of been a great way to end the mornings walk but no it got a bit better for me after everyone said their goodbys and went on our way . I decided to go home the long way round as I like this way better than going over the ferry . Driving along I was thinking to myself should I drop down to Hartland Moor on the way home
When all of a sudden I noticed Paul at the view Point along Ferry Road that looks out across Godlingston Heath . Paul was waving me into to the layby and my first thought what has he seen
I pulled in  and open the window and Paul tells me that a bird I have wanted to see for a long time was out in the field just below, the bird in question was a lovely Ring Ouzel so a had a good luck through Paul's scope as I packed mine away  after looking through the scope I got my bins and watched the bird for a while before it flew off to the right in to some scrub a great way to end the morning.

New birds for the list

138 - Common Scoter # Lifer
139 - Yellow-browed Warbler # Lifer
140 - Ring Ouzel # Lifer

Other birds seen
Great White Egret
Great Crested Grebes
Brent Geese
Black-necked Grebes
Pintail
Meadow Pipits
Grey Heron
Red Wing
Pied Wagtils
Skylark
Blackbirds
Blue Tits
Cole Tit
Great Tits
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tits
Chiffchaff

Brand's Bay again

Had lot of chores to do to day like  doing water changes on my fish tanks and then shooting off to B&Q for a new shower head and lead as the old one broke. Though this turned out good as it gave me the opportunity to nip over to Brand's bay again for the afternoon and hopefully to catch up with the Grey Plover  (these would be a lifer and a new bird for the Dorset list,) and Osprey and perhaps get some pictures. There was no sign of the Osprey but the Great White Egret was there again and it is a lovely bird. Scan the bay for the Plovers I spotted lots of Black- tailed Godwits, Wigeon, Teal, a Pintail, lapwings, Little Egrets, Redshanks and finally I found the bird I was looking for a lovely fresh looking Grey Plover These birds must look stunning in there breeding plumage one day I might get to see one in that plumage.

Record shot of Grey Plover

Heavy crop of a record shot - Grey Plover

137 Grey Plover #