Something Different- Ballooning

 During the week, I got a WhatsApp message from my brother-in-law asking if I’d be up for crewing (following, tracking, and retrieving the balloon). Of course, I said yes and was happy to help. The launch was set for the evening of April 25th from the Barley Mow, which has a great adjacent field for balloon takeoffs.

I arrived at the designated time and waited for my sister Sarah and her husband Shaun to arrive. I was expecting to crew, but when they showed up with a couple of their friends, Shaun asked if I’d like to go up. I instantly agreed, having been up before and knowing how incredible it feels to be 1,500 feet above the ground, floating quietly with the occasional roar of the propane flame.

As we prepped the balloon, a large crowd from the pub gathered to watch. There were gasps of “ah” and “wow” as the cold air filled the envelope and the balloon began to take shape. Shaun lit the burners, filling it with hot air, and soon the basket was in position for me and Shaun’s friend to climb aboard. A few more blasts from the burners, and it was time to release the quick release and we were off, heading toward the Horton Inn area.

The views that evening were stunning, stretching to the Isle of Wight, Poole Harbour, the Purbecks, and the surrounding countryside. While keeping an eye out for power lines, I also scanned for wildlife and spotted deer, pheasants, and hares.

Eventually, it was time to land. Shaun, the pilot, found a suitable field just as the wind was dropping, but a hedge of trees blocked our approach. It was touch and go as the burners roared into overdrive to lift us above the trees. It was a relief when we cleared the top, close enough that I could touch the highest branches with my hand.

Getting the Balloon ready

Getting ready for take off

Up we go

The burner going for more lift

A View of the Barley Mow

Side of the Balloon with the Moon 

Looking up into the Balloon

The Burners 

Horton Tower

A view of the countryside

 

Third Time a Charm

 Saturday 18th, 2026.

After seeing so many beautiful photos of the Red Spotted Bluethroat during the week, I decided I’d get up early to try and see it for myself. So, I was up at 6 a.m., washed, had breakfast, and headed to Wareham for the third time. I managed to grab the last parking spot near the Rugby Club and began the fairly long walk down to the gravel pits. On the way, I chatted with a couple of people heading back who told me the bird had been showing well, but there were already over 15 people queued along the narrow path, and it was only about 7:20! My excitement dipped a little after hearing that. When I reached the dirt track at the start of the GPs, I met a couple with a Welsh accent who asked if I was going to see the bird. They’d come from Tenby and made a weekend of it, planning to visit Arne later.

The weather was lovely, and it was pleasant walking down the track and along the river, surrounded by birdsong. As I rounded a corner, my heart sank a bit seeing all the people ahead, I’m not keen on big crowds. Still, some folks moved and I found myself near the front, though not quite there, as a few photographers were lying on the path with others kneeling behind them. Turns out they’d been there since 5:30 that morning.

Then a gap opened, and through my binoculars I had an incredible view of a small, robin-sized bird with long legs, a vivid blue throat and breast, and a bright red spot. What a stunning little bird , and a fantastic lifer! I snapped a couple of rough record shots; maybe I could’ve done better if I’d stayed put, but having seen it, and with so many others waiting for their turn, I thought it best to make room.

Lifer Red Spotted Blue Throat

After spotting the Blue Throat, I headed over to Middlebere for a wonderful walk across the heath and down the track to the Middlebere hide, taking a slow meander to refamiliarize myself with the area. The sunny, warm morning was alive with birdsong from Chaffinches, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, and Willow Warblers along the track, and on the heathland, Meadow Pipits, Blackbirds, and Dartford Warblers added to the chorus. As I made my way to the hide, I was hoping to see a bird I hadn’t encountered in a while—not for lack of presence, but because I hadn’t sought it out around the Poole Harbour area. Secretly, I’d been wishing one would turn up at my local patch, Longham Lakes, but one can dream. The Ring Ouzel didn’t make an appearance, but I did add three more birds to my county list: Willow Warbler, Cuckoo; my first sighting of the season, and a wonderful Sedge Warbler singing openly in the brambles behind the old barn by the National Trust Cottages. Unfortunately, my camera battery died on the way down the track, so the only photos I managed were of a Meadow Pipit, an Orange Tip, and a Speckled Wood.

Meadow Pipit

Orange Tip female  I think

Speckled Wood

As the late afternoon set in, I began heading home but decided to stop by a field I know that once had plenty of Green-winged Orchids (Anacamptis morio). Walking through the first field, which used to hold hundreds, it was disappointing to find none in flower or even rosettes. Passing through the open gateway into the next field, I noticed a patch of purple in the middle and found some small Green-winged Orchids, though only about 30 of these wonderful flowers.  

With the weather starting to warm up, I’ll be sharing more photos on my blog of my other interests, like orchids, wildflowers, butterflies, dragonflies, and possibly some moths. 

Green-winged Orchids also known as Green-veined Orchid

 

# 127 Red-spotted Blue Throat = Lifer

# 128 Sedge Warbler

# 129 Willow Warbler

# 130 Cuckoo

Decisions Right or Wrong

 Friday 10th April; On Friday afternoon after work, I decided to head to Swineham GP in search of the elusive Red-spotted Bluethroat. Was it a good decision or a bad one? What even makes a decision good or bad when birding? Being a Friday, I knew getting from Ferndown to Wareham would be a nightmare—and it was. I also knew the bird hadn’t been seen since 11:20 a.m., so what possessed me to set off at 1:30 p.m.? Not only would it have been a mega lifer for me, but it would’ve added a bird to my county list. This turned out to be my first wrong call of the weekend, as the traffic ate up precious time, leaving me with only about an hour and a half before I had to leave to beat the homeward rush. I didn’t see the bird I came for, but I did add two new species: Reed Warbler and Sandwich Tern. Was it a good late afternoon? It was nice to see these birds, bump up the list, and spend time with fellow birders I knew. Still, in the end, given the traffic, perhaps it wasn’t the best choice.

Saturday 11th April; I made the same mistake of going in the afternoon. Why a mistake? Well, the day before, reports of the Bluethroat had come only in the early morning, with no sightings in the afternoon. So why repeat it? Was it the lure of a lifer or just wanting it on the county list, rather than appreciating it for being a beautiful migrant bird? Honestly, I think it was mainly for the list. I spent another two hours waiting for the bird to show, which it didn’t, though I did manage to tick off two more species: House Martin and Bearded Reedling. On the way home, news broke of a Hoopoe near Hartland Moor, but I didn’t see the update until I was already home and couldn’t go out again due to other commitments.

Sunday 12th April; I think maybe I should have arranged the family walk for Saturday instead of Sunday. I could have gone out after tea this evening instead of writing this blog, but I was torn. With work in the morning, I figured it was best to rest after a week of nine-hour shifts beside a noisy machine, thinking about coordinates, inputting data, and lifting heavy metal pieces all day—it’s both mentally and physically draining. I’m starting to think I’m not cut out for going all out, because in the end it came down to whether I wanted to go out just to tick off a bird for the sake of a number. It’s a lot of effort, and I can’t imagine how birders or twitchers manage to chase around the country—it must be exhausting and stressful. The idea of constant travel for birds is losing its appeal, as I enjoy wandering my local patches or visiting a few familiar spots now and then. Still, I’ve seen some amazing birds, including ones I might never have spotted without making the effort. In the end, maybe there’s no right or wrong choice—just a decision, whatever it brings.

# Reed Warbler 123

# Sandwich Tern 124

# House Martin 125

# Bearded Reedling 126

A western Marsh Harrier in its 3rd Calendar Year

Cuckoo Flower

Wood Anemone

Blue Bells

Garganey and Portland

 On the 3rd of April, I set off on a grey, damp late morning in search of the Garganey recently spotted at Woodsford Bridge. A drake and hen had been seen on the gravel quarry ponds there. Since I’d never visited the area before, I asked about parking and was told there was a small layby nearby. With directions from BirdGuides and Google Maps, I headed out late morning. Finding the spot was easy, and I parked in the small layby before scanning the pools with my binoculars, spotting only two Gadwall at first. Then, two Kestrels appeared over the field, calling and interacting, a pleasant distraction. A family with a dog began walking toward the ponds, and I worried they might scare the birds. Just then, a Red Kite flew overhead, catching my attention, and when I looked back at the pond, I saw the drake and hen Garganey in the middle. I quickly retrieved my scope from the car for a better view.

The Garganey seen I decided to head off to Portland with the hope of seeing some sea birds.

Rubbish photo of the male Garganey

I arrived at Portland at approximately 12pm and found a parking space and walked to the bill lighthouse It was very windy and when I got to Pulpit Rock I could see the see was very rough with waves crashing on to the rocks below. I soon noticed a large flock of gull off west cliffs and among some Gannets, Fulmars and Kittiwake. On the sea I could make out Guillemots bobbing up and out of view among the waves.

Watching the Gannets fly by, I soon spotted two Manx Shearwaters riding the waves, turning this way and that, disappearing behind one swell and reappearing on the crest of another. Unfortunately, they were far off and best viewed through the telescope, and my attempt at photographing them was dismal at best. I watched as they headed further out to sea with the outgoing tide, likely following fish. 

I moved on to search for the Little Owl and perhaps a Wheatear near the Obs quarry. Luckily, just before a family walked down the path toward the quarry, I spotted the Little Owl tucked into one of the crags. However, the owl noticed the group and quickly retreated to safety among the rocks. Making my way back along the path, I scanned the many House Sparrows, hoping to spot a Tree Sparrow. A small bird lifted from the grass meadow, flashing a white rump, and I instantly thought “Wheatear.” The bird landed on one of the house aerials, so I focused the scope on it, and sure enough, it was a male Wheatear. With that, I decided it was time to head home.

Portland Bird Observatory

The Bill Lighthouse

 Pulpit Rock

Waves crashing over rocks

Gannet

A dreadful record capture of a Manx Shearwater

Today’s sightings included Garganey, Kestrel, Red Kite, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Little Owl, and Wheatear, with the Wheatear marking my 122nd species on the Dorset County List.