Red Admiral

The first of the year in the garden today.

 

Bee-eaters

A whole day’s birding to myself whilst the family went into Dorchester (Tom had revision to do). Hard work in the morning, though good fun trying. After a crab-sandwich and the pint I decided to drive off to nearby Cheyne Wears near the bill as I’d noticed there was a place to park in a more vegetated area than the bill. Birded it for about half an hour when I heard a Bee-eater! Looked up, and there were four of them, in-off the sea. They were quite high, and views weren’t the best, but a great self find! I later found out that they were seen by others at various places round Portland. Quite mobile apparently and gave people a run-around. They were also seen at the Bill the following day. I didn’t have views like these photos (taken by Joe Stockwell), but it was good to know they were seen by others, and were also videoed: filmed.

 

I celebrated with a drink in the pub overlooking the Bill before driving to Dorchester to collect the others.

Other stuff seen, included this Adonis Blue that I just managed to capture before it flew away…

This Rock Pipit with a huge number of flies and grubs…

 

And this Oak Eggar caterpillar…

We finished the short break with a trip to Osmington Mills where we started on a walk. The walk started well, with a Lesser Whitethroat was noted, but then we got caught in a huge storm and had to make a run for the Smugglers Inn pub where we dried-off, and watched the torrential rain for rivers in the village. After a bite to eat, we headed for home.

Heard onlys

Started at Abbotsbury Sub-tropical gardens. A nice place, and saw a few birds there, though nothing too amazing. Did however hear a Firecrest, but despite searching in the dense vegetation, could not see it.

 

 

We then went to Portland where a Common Rosefinch was present. Heard it singing, but couldn’t see it! Birded for a few hours but found little. A sea-watch proved unproductive apart from a few Guillemots, Razorbills, and Gannets. So we gave up and went rock-climbing!

We then headed to Cerne Abbas where we went on a decent walk. A few Early Purple Orchids were still just about in flower, although past there best. Then, walking by the stream through the village, I’m convinced a Dipper was calling. This will be a good record for Dorset. But we couldn’t find it!

Portland

A couple of nights away with the family in Dorset. Arrived mid-afternoon and went for a drink near to Lodmoor RSPB. The reserve was disappointing so we moved onto Portland for a few hours. Birded a bit and then watched the world go buy from the pub.

Fowlmere

A quick walk down to the hide in the evening. Didn’t see a lot apart from a juvenile Grey Heron that’s being hanging around for a few days, presumably having been raised somewhere close. Gadwall pair still present. The only butterfly seen was this Speckled Wood…

Left to go looking around the fields – probably for the last time this year – for Dotterel. Not much seen whilst looking.

Fowlmere and Garden

A Gadwall pair present, but don’t look like breeding? The birds are entering eclipse plumage. Barn Owls have young. Usual stuff apart from that, including this Grey Partridge…

In the garden, there are fledgling Robins and Song Thrushes. Blue Tits and Great Tits are still feeding the young. A Dunnock, Greenfinch and Wren pair are breeding somewhere close, but not sure where the nests are. Swifts in the roof may have young.

Fowlmere

A very quick walk around produced three calling Turtle Doves and a Hobby.

Garden Tits

Made a quick video of the nesting Blue Tit and Great Tits in the garden whilst working at home. Exciting viewing…

Fowlmere

Not a lot. Daft picture of some Greylag Geese…

The first Hairy Dragon of the year. Garden Warbler still. A juvenile Grey Heron from somewhere.

Year Ticks

A couple of surprise ticks in Cambridge: A Yellow Wagtail from the train, and a Common Blue Butterfly in the Botanic Gardens.

Fowlmere

In heavy rain and hail showers interspersed with bright sunshine, a Garden Warbler was found. First for the year.

Local Birding

Did a reasonable amount of local birding, but very difficult in strong wind and a waste of time. Most interesting sighting was this odd Mistle Thrush…

Fowlmere

Awoke early due to the Swifts being unusually noisy, followed by a Wren nesting somewhere close to the bedroom window.

Heavy rain, so stayed at home until mid-morning when it cleared to bright sunshine and I went to Fowlmere. The year’s first Damselflies were seen: Azure and Large Red, and the year’s first Sand Martin.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen attempting to get into a nestbox where a Great Tit was inside brooding eggs. Fortunately for the Great Tit, I startled it.

The Barn Owls appear to be nesting this year.

  

Wheatear

A very quick lunchtime drive around local fields produced another Wheatear in the field just north of Thriplow. Also seen were several Grey Partridges, several Red-legged Partridges, a Common Buzzard, and a number of Hares.

Local Birding

Fowlmere in the morning. Not a lot apart from a Hobby performing well. Still no Whitethroats.

Later afternoon walked around the fields in Foxton. Nothing too special. A few Lesser Whitethroats.

Early evening went for a quick walk around Shepreth L-Moor. An improvement with a fox running around and showing nicely, followed later by a Hobby chasing a House Martin for several minutes before the House Martin managed to miss the final dive by the Hobby and fly off high away.

In the garden, both Great Tits and Blue Tits are nesting in their usual places.

Migrants

No birding today but whilst walking along the River Cam in Cambridge, the year’s first Common Tern was seen and in the evening in the garden, three Swifts returned.

Whimbrel Chase

Went to Fowlmere first thing before beginning work. Quiet yet again. Took a poor picture of a Green Woodpecker to pass the time.

At lunchtime I had a quick drive around looking into the fields for Dotterel. Just north of Thriplow Church I heard a Whimbrel. I picked it up as it was flying north, possibly into Foxton airspace! I jumped into the car and pursued it along the Thriplow-Newton Road which it seemed to be following. Unfortunately it continued directly north, thus missing the village!

In the evening I took a walk around Fowlmere Road and over to Newton though didn’t see a lot.