A Return to the Dorset Fields
It has been two months since my last post on the 6th September. I just have not felt like writing .
When I chose the title Birding Through The Mist, I realised it doesn't just describe the foggy weather we had in the field on Saturday 7 November . it also describes how my mind has been feeling lately.
I have been recovering from an operation, and also dealing with the anniversary of my nephew Trooper Andrew Martin Howarth ( Queens Royal Lancers), who was killed in Afghanistan on the 18 September 2010. Even after 16 years, the memories still haunt me sometimes. Between recovering from the op and the anniversary, writing and birding had to take a back seat for a bit.
Recently , I have managed to get back out into the Dorset countryside, and the fresh air has really helped clear that mist. The birds have been putting on a good show, seeing some Firecrests and getting my Dorset County List up to 166.
The recent sightings have been a great distraction. A week after finding the Barnacle Goose, my good friend George and I had a walk round Longham Lake. I managed to find a Black-necked Grebe and George found a flying first winter Little Gull. Eventually, we found three Little Gulls and it was wonderful to watch them flying in the strong wind.
Saturday 7 November provided another great trip out in the late morning/ midday . A Pectoral Sandpiper had been found on Friday, so George and I went to see if we could find it. Travelling from Wimborne, we had high hopes of seeing the bird as the morning fog had lifted when we set off. As we travelled past Lytchett Fields, which were shrouded in fog our hopes dropped like a stone.
We carried on though to Swineham, and with some help of birders already at the site we found the Curlew Pools, viewing from the river bank ( the Two Rivers Walk), of the River Frome . The views weren't fantastic due the mist shrouding the pool, though it eventually lifted enough for an alright view of the wader. It was good to see and well worth going out for. Getting out with a friend had been a great way to get back into it. It is good to be back I will try and add a couple more blogs before the end of the year.
Thanks for reading and bearing with me while I was not out birding.
