Morden Bog, Martin Down and Winterbourne Downs - Sun 28 May

A great day out with good company and some cracking birds to boot! Meeting up with the Usual Suspects at 7.00am we headed down to Dorset and our first stop of the day, Morden Bog. A walk over the heathland produced some great views of Tree Pipit.

Other species noted included Stonechat and Linnet plus some really excellent views of a family of Dartford Warblers, though they didn't stay still long enough for a photo opportunity.
Leaving Morden Bog we made a quick stop where we had great views of a female Goshawk and a Red Kite.
On then to Martin Down where we were targeting just one species, and it did not take us long to before we heard a purring Turtle Dove, and I soon located it sat in the top of a tree.

Also at Martin Down we had good, if somewhat distant, views of a singing Corn Bunting.

With the target bird quickly ticked off we headed on to another location where we really struck gold with brilliant views of not one, but two, hunting male Montague's Harriers.

These stunning birds showed really well as we watched them for about quarter of an hour before we moved on to the RSPB reserve at Winterbourne Downs.
A late lunch in the car park was followed by a stroll up to the viewing screen where we had more quality with a pair of Stone Curlews on a distant scrape (it's the brownish blob in the photo below!).

Another two Red Kites were seen over the reserve and with rain on the way we decided to head back home after a really excellent day of quality birding.