Last PWC Visits for January

Friday (29th January) afternoon I headed off down to Longham Lakes after work for my last visit for January to see if i could add any more species to the list. The weather was not great being very dull and grey with strong winds whipping up the lake and making it a bit chilly on the western side of South Lake.
I managed to add five new birds to the list despite the weather, but one bird did allude me and that was a Snipe  that was on the small island spotted by Dominic, though after a good bit of searching I could not find the bird most likely hunkered down in the long grass on the centre of the island by the time I got round to the island.
One thing I did notice was that the number of Pochard on the small North lake have decreased considerable from 40 to about 10 since my last visit, though numbers of Gadwall seem to be increasing.
I have added the complete list for January below with the latest additions in bold.

Starling

Cormorant

Tufted Duck

Magpie

Coot

Pochard

Great Crested Grebe

Black-headed Gull

Gadwall

Wigeon

Teal

Mallard

Little Grebe

Rook

Mute Swan

Robin

Herring Gull

Blackbird

Woodpigeon

Jackdaw

Little Egret

Lapwing

Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Redwing

Song Thrush

Blue Tit

Grey Heron

Canada Goose

Greylag Goose

Green Woodpecker

Greenfinch

Moorhen

Grey Wagtail

Dunnock

Great Black-backed Gull

Long-tailed Tit

Kingfisher

Chaffinch

Common Gull

Stonechat

Shoveler

Chiffchaff

Meadow Pipit

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Kestrel

Saturday 30th January 2016 
Late morning I went off down to my other patch at Lytchett fields with the hope of catching up with a Hen Harrier, but this was not to be as I arrived to late and reports of one already in the early morning so I missed my chance. Though it was still nice to be out looking and counting the birds for the BirdTrack records so far I have only managed 57 species from a 120 records and 4 complete list this month giving me a total of 64 points for the Patch Work Challenge.
It as taken me 30 days though to get Rook, Herring Gull but it was nice to finish off with a lovely Bullfinch.

Little bridge leading to the view points

There was not much out on the flooded fields though there was a good number of gulls mostly Black-headed I was hoping for an interesting gull due to the rough weather with have had lately but that was not the case after scanning them all I am beginning to find gulls a fascinating and complex species to get my head round.
I had a quick look out in to the bay from the yellow boat viewing spot, and the only highlight was a Goldeneye and a wildflower potting about in is boat with is dog sat at the front.

The Yellow Boat viewing spot

 

It will be interesting to see what February brings in the way of new species for these to sites I am looking forward to the coming months and recording the birds. I'am sure I have got more out of my birding this month while doing this challenge.
This is the list so far for Lytchett Fields PWC  with the latest addition in bold.

Woodpigeon

Robin

Song Thrush

Great Tit

Blue Tit

Magpie

Blackbird

Goldfinch

Redwing

Curlew

Redshank

Water Pipit

Shelduck

Goldeneye

Great Crested Grebe

Little Grebe

Grey Heron

Oystercatcher

Avocet

Little Egret

Teal

Wigeon

Lapwing

Dunlin

Peregrine

Marsh Harrier

Mute Swan

Spoonbill

Great Black-backed Gull

Goldcrest

House Sparrow

Spotted Redshank

Moorhen

Kestrel

Pheasant

Meadow Pipit

Carrion Crow

Pied Wagtail

Starling

Chiffchaff

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Chaffinch

Black-tailed Godwit

Wren

Dunnock

Greenfinch

Snipe

Black-headed Gull

Cormorant

Jackdaw

Green Sandpiper

Long-tailed Tit

Mistle Thrush

Rook

Stonechat

Herring Gull

Bullfinch

After I finished at Lytchett I shot over to Durlston CP with the hope of catching up with the Guillimots and Gannets but the Guillimots were not on there ledge so I expect they were far out at sea fishing in the rought seas. Also not signs of the Gannets so thet must of been out there also brave birds, I did mangage to find two Fulmar just loafing about on the wind with ease and just skimming the large waves and gliding along on thermals next to the cliff face. While watching these come close to the cliff I noticed a Peregrine sat out on a ledge of the cliff face waiting for an oppertunaty to grab on of the many feral pigeons that use the cliffs.

Phone scoped record shot of a Peregrine Flacon

Sun Rise walk at Swineham

This morning went on a walk with a group on one of  http://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/ monthly walks. At Swineham with the weather cold and frosty and just as the sun was rising a Peregrine flew over our heads followed by two Sparrowhawk. It was an enjoyable walk with some good birds heard and seen, the highlights for me were the Peregrine, 2 Sparrow Hawks and Marsh Harriers though there was plenty to see like flocks of Black-tailed Godwits flying over a big flock of Lapwing and Kingfishers chasing each other. A good morning watching Marsh Harrier gentle gliding over the reeds giving some very good views with just using the binoculars.
It was a bit sad to see howthe place as changed with the work that as been going on clearing parts of the hedge and reed at some parts of the lake. Though this gives a much better view over the lake and surrounding reeds.The birds were saw and heard beside the above were Stock Dove, 1 Feildfare, Redwings, Mistle Thrush, Rock Pipits, Cetti's Warbler (heard) Chiffchaff, Water Rail (heard),Reed Buntings, Meadow pipits, Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker and the usual fair of woodland species.

Patchworking Visit 2

Sunday 10th January 2016 I set off at 9.00am to visit my Patchwork Challenge Sites that I set up at the beginning of the year. To see if i could add any new birds to the list.
The first place of call was Lytchett Fields and Slough Lane. Here I look for birds along the hedge rows along the lanes and in the Pools Field, The bay, Frenches Field and Sherford Pools. This sight gives me a good mix of species to been seen from passerines, waders and raptors.

Walking down the lane

As I walked down the lane a Song thrush was singing away and Robins chattering made for a pleasant start to the day. On the way to the Pools Field scanning the trees and bushes I add a couple  new birds to the list Dunnock and Great Spotted Woodpecker  with more Blue, Great Tits to be added to the BirdTrack list.

The Pools Field

While standing at the gate looking to see what I could find out in the field  just to my left there is a nice clump of trees were you can usual see birds and today was slightly different as besides the usual tits and robins that are there I also add a new bird to the list here a nice little Chiffchaff.
Out in the field their was 34 Redshanks, 8 Curlew most likely more hidden away in the long grass. Down by the view point were you can get a better view of the field I added Starling,  Wren and among the Curlew I spotted a lone Black-tailed Godwit that is 6 new birds and I still not been down the rest of the lane and on to the fields. So I made my way down the muddy and part flooded lane and soon picked upper another with a single Chaffinch, looking across one of the fields I noticed a bird perched at the top of the tree and a Pheasant strutting across the field, I got the scope on the bird in the tree and it was a female Kestrel.
I made my way across the water logged field  and crossed the birdge over the stream that was almost full to bursting.

Standing on the little birdge looking back towards the lane

As the tide was very high today I thought there might be some good wildfowl out on the water,I like to go to this site at diffrent times of day and states of tide. This helps me get a better understanding of the place and when and what species and likely to be about, but today their was not many wildfowl out on the water, 38 Teal and a hand full of Shelduck which is not suprising really with the wildfowlers out in the bay bagging a few duck. Though with all the shooting going on I still added three new birds to my list with Black-headed Gull, Greenfinch and Snipe, which made 9 new species for the day.

Dunnock

Record Shot of 107 Black-tailed Godwit at Upton CP

After spending two hour walking round and watching the birds a this site I ended up with with nine new bird which bring the list up to 48 species recorded so far giving me 55 species points.  
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Chiffchaff
Chaffinch
Black-headed Gull
Black-tailed Godwit
Wren
Starling
Dunnock
Snipe 

 I headed over to my other patch Longham Lake.

Longham Lake Patch

Looking across the lake from the west bank

I arrived at the lakes at 13.50hrs after a heavy showers on my way from Poole to find two Redwing in the car park and another singing Song Thrush not far from the visitor centre.

On the small lake I counted 20 Pochard it is great to see these birds back for the winter hopefully there numbers will build over the coming weeks.

One of 20 Pochard on North Lake

I walked round both lakes this afternoon with the hope of getting some new birds to build up the Longham list. Which thankfully I managed to do, the first new bird was a lone Greylag goose among 72 Canada geese out on the flooded Hampreston fields.

Flood Field with the Dorset Stour spilling over its banks

 

Fist group of Canada geese

Second group of Canada geese

Flooded Fields

I ended up with 7 new birds for the patch which brings the list up to 36 species recorded and a 37 species points. Which was not to bad going given how the weather was with intermiten showers on and off during the afternoon.

Cormorant 

The new birds

Greylag goose

Great Black-backed Gull

Greenfinch

Green Woodpecker

Moorhen

Dunnock

Grey Wagtail

Patching at Lytchett Fields

Today I started my Patch and Lytchett Fields here I record all the birds seen in the lanes and fields I walk and from within the Polygone I can record the birds I see out in  Lytchett Bay, The Pools Field, Frenches View Point and Sherford Pools view Point. I set offjust as the rain was being to ease abit but some of the roads on the way were flooded, and walking down Slough Lane at one point the lane was like a small stream almost welllie high in places though this did not detere me from getting to the view points..
It was not a bad start for me as I recorded 38 species of birds on my first trip.
It was good to see the Water Pipit again my first ever sighting of this species was at this location  in December 2015.
The list:
Woodpigeon
Robin
Song Thrush
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Magpie
Blackbird
Goldfinch
Redwing
Curlew
Redshank
Water Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Meadow Pipit
Shelduck
Goldeneye
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Grey Heron
Oystercatcher
Avocet
Little Egret
Teal
Wigeon
Lapwing
Dunlin
Peregrine
Marsh Harrier
Kestrel
Mute Swan
Spoonbill
Great Black-backed Gull
Goldcrest
House Sparrow
Spotted Redshank
Moorehen
Phesant
Carrion Crow

Old shot looking across Sherford Pools

January 2016 and New Challenges

As 2015 came to a close I decided to restart my blog as I have a couple of new challenges for this year. but before I go in to them I like to let you know what I got up to last year.
I spent most of it concentrating on finding species of birds to get my list up to that of the previous year  which I managed to do  with one extra making a list of 152 species seen between 1st Jan- 31st Dec 2015. During the year I had seven new lifers these were Nightingale, Red-footed Falcon, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Red-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe and Great Skua.
Now to those two new challenges I was talking about well I have decided this year to take part in the Patch Work Challenge, this is were you set up a patch with in a polygon of a maxium of 3 square kilometres and record what species you can see in this area and specie seen out side the area as long as you are within the polygon. And are given points for each species starting with 1 for more information take a look at this blog . http://patchworkchallenge.blogspot.co.uk/
I have set up two Sites the first was Longham Lakes and the other Lytchetts Fields.
I started late this morning at Longham Lakes in very windy wet weather not ideal conditions but managed to record 29 species giving me a total of 30 points to kick off my challenge at this patch.
I have not started at the other site as the weather turned worse so headed home.
Here are a few picture highlights from last year.

Information Board

Black-headed Gull

Blue Tit

Sand Martins

Long-tailed Tit

Firecrest