Lodmoor RSPB - Sat 18 Aug

More father and son time this afternoon and a trip south to Weymouth and a walk around Lodmoor RSPB. I was after a couple of species that had been reported earlier in the day according to my pager and it did not take me too long to connect with my first target as I located the two Wood Sandpipers near "the Hump".

 

 

The first of three Common Sandpipers was seen in the same area with others near the tern islands and then near a flock of roosting gulls. I headed towards the gulls in the hope of finding the second target of the day and when I spotted another birder he saved me a bit of effort as he had the Little Gull I was after in his 'scope (note the size comparison of the roosting Little Gull alongside the Black-headed Gulls).

Excellent stuff...both birds safely ticked off and not a moment too soon as the gulls suddenly got spooked and took to the air, the Little Gull vanished from site as he headed towards the bay. I continued the circular walk but other than a single Swift and a pair of Snipe that whizzed around over the reserve I saw nothing of note.

Sutton Bingham - Sat 18 Aug

A quick hour long visit to the reservoir this morning with Tristan whilst Ellie went in to town to do some shopping. I took a walk down to the southern end of the reservoir, but it proved to be fruitless with the only bird of note being a Peregrine atop one of the pylons and three Sand Martins that flew through heading south.
The northern end proved equally unproductive with just two Little Egrets standing out from the commoner fair. Of interest, there were at least seventy Great Crested Grebes at the reservoir this morning and a Kingfisher was heard calling but we failed to see it.

Sutton Bingham - Thu 16 Aug

A family trip up to the reservoir this afternoon after work, and Ellie, Tristan and I parked by the hide and walked up to the northern causeway. It was pretty quiet on the bird front and the recent rain (I seem to have been saying that all "Summer") had meant water levels had crept up again. That being said we did see a single Common Sandpiper as we walked along. When we reached the northern causeway I located a Little Egret near the Sailing Club, but there was not much else of note at this end of the reservoir. Our return walk to the car failed to produce much more, though the adult Yellow-legged Gull did fly past us heading north, and Tristan decided it was time for his tea, so it was back home!

Sutton Bingham - Sun 12 Aug

My usual hour long mid-morning visit with Tristan whilst Ellie was at church and a few birds of note today. A quick stop at the northern causeway produced an adult Great Black-backed Gull sat on one of the pontoons off the Sailing Club and a Common Tern off the dam. Four Little Egrets flew from the shoreline next to the Sailing Club and headed south.
Down to the southern end of the reservoir and I soon relocated three of the Little Egrets as they fed on some of the exposed mud. Also present a single Green Sandpiper and two Common Sandpipers. Two Mandarin were skulking around on the fringes of the water. The adult Yellow-legged Gull was also present briefly on the water before taking flight. A Peregrine was perched on one of the pylons.
I did pick up a SBR mammal tick today as a Weasel ran across the road in front of us! On the butterfly front there was nothing different today, and I could not begin to identify a large dragonfly that buzzed in front of me very briefly!
All in all a good trip out and after bumping in to some old friends that I had not seen for years we ended up being a little late picking up Ellie from church!

Meare Heath NR - Sun 5 Aug

A family trip out this afternoon and a pleasant walk up at Meare Heath. We failed to see that much in the way of birds, although the seemingly ever-present Great White Egrets were present with two adults and a juvenile bird being seen. A Raven flew over and then loitered in a tree for a while. A flock of thirty-seven Lapwing flew over heading west and were the only waders noted as the second lagoon which is usually so good for waders is full of water. A single Gatekeeper was on the wing and was the only other sighting of note whilst we were out.

Sutton Bingham - Sun 5 Aug

I was hoping for a chance to catch up with the guys I usually go birding with this morning as it was family service at Ellie's church to which she always takes Tristan. However, because I had left it late trying to organise anything no-one else could make it and instead I popped up to the reservoir after dropping the rest of the family off.
From the northern causeway I noted a Little Egret as it flew from the shoreline near the Sailing Club and headed south down the reservoir (I could not relocate it later so it may have kept going). Also on the water an adult and juvenile Great Black-backed Gull, both of which were being mobbed by the other large gulls present. West Pool held a small flock of Canada Geese which seemed to be new arrivals, and a male Reed Bunting was seen in the waterside vegetation.
I then headed down to the southern end and scanned from the hide. Water levels have dropped a little meaning there is a bit of exposed mud and this had attracted a few passage waders, with two Green Sandpipers and five Common Sandpipers present. A couple of Sand Martins passed through, only seeming to linger for a few minutes before heading south. On the water the number of moulting duck seem to have increased and amongst the Mallards was a single female Teal. Also present a family group of seven Mandarin, including several juvenile birds so it looks as if the species has successfully bred at SBR again this year.
Finally, on the butterfly front, at least two Gatekeepers were on the wing near the hide and a very fresh looking Meadow Brown was also seen.
All in all a pretty productive morning this morning, especially as I had originally planned to travel further afield.

Black Hole Marsh, Seaton - Sat 4 Aug

Ellie was out all day attending a friend's Hen Party, so I had the pleasure of looking after Tristan for the day. A quick trip to Sutton Bingham in the morning produced nothing at all of note, but in the afternoon we drove down to Seaton and took a walk around Black Hole Marsh.
There was a surprising number of waders present considering the time of year and before long I had seen five Common Sandpipers, single Green Sandpipers, Dunlin and Redshank, three Lapwings, seventeen Black-tailed Godwits, and two Greenshanks (unbelievably my first of 2012!).
Out on the estuary there were loads of gulls, but I could not find anything out of the ordinary amongst the commoner species.
Whilst on site I also saw a few Gatekeeper butterflies, and after about ninety minutes on site we headed back home so that Tristan could have his tea.