Ellie's choice of location today and we were up early and set off for Worth Matravers on the Isle of Purbeck, arriving at 9.00am. We parked in the village car park (seeing two Hares in a field near the village) and headed off west, walking down to Chapman's Pool. Along the way we were surprised by the lack of migrants, but I guess the fine weather had meant any birds arriving on the south coast would have kept moving. Ellie was lucky enough to see an Adder sunning itself, but it had moved in to cover by the time I caught up.
At Chapman's Pool we saw a Little Egret fishing on the shore and a Sparrowhawk flew over. A Fulmar flew past out to see. As we climbed back up to the cliff top a pair of Peregrines passed overhead and a male Stonechat put on a bit of a show. We saw several Stonechats along the route, this particular individual showed a very pale rump leaving me thinking it might be of the Continental race.
We followed the coast path around St Aldhelm's Head and then on to Winspit. Several Skylarks were singing and we also saw a single Rock Pipit. Below us on the water and flying from the cliffs were a number of Razerbills and Guillemots. Two Ravens flew over calling and a further three were seen as we returned to the village and the car.
Leaving Worth Matravers we headed back home, taking a slight detour to Middlebeare where an Osprey had been seen earlier in the day. I left Ellie in the car, she had had enough of walking, and trapsed off to Avocet Hide. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the Osprey, but I did see two Spoonbills. As I walked back to the car another Peregrine soared overhead. Nearing the car I saw a Tree Pipit feeding on the ground.
During the course of the morning we also saw a few butterflies on the wing, noticeably a couple of Peacocks and Small Tortoiseshells and a single Red Admiral.
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