It is likely that the Big
Companies, when forced into a corner, will tell you anything to get you
off of their backs. The truth without, it seems the Internet disruption
is only down in part to the weather the main reason being the problems
BT are having with installing the Fibre Optic system hereabouts. A
familiar story, as in recent times Portland suffered a similar 'outage'
which took some while to rectify? Anyway, (they say that she comes on a pale horse but I'm sure I hear a train)
as it's chucking it down with rain and there is a chance to get On-line
(who knows for how long) so I have confined myself to a cold office (no
Internet in the house) to hopefully get some way to getting up to date.
On Wednesday (22) armed with updated information and still following my
own hunch I returned to Blashford, and particularly Kingfisher Lake, to
see if the
FERRUGINOUS DUCK*
was on show.
With
no luck on the previous visit to the East side of the lake, where the
waters are more or less obscured by vegetation, story has it that it
has been seen to the West. Arriving at the end of Hurst Road, a cul de sac, I
had not even left the car before a birder emerged from the pathway to
inform me that the Duck was on show but at a distance. Not content
simply with this, he erected his tripod. focused on the bird allowing
me to see it across the lake. With the exception of Friday, which is a
tale in itself hopefully to be published tomorrow (don't get too
excited), I have visited the waterlogged area of the Avon Causeway daily
in the hope of adding Egyptian Goose to the 'ongoing' Dorset January
List. Even at the time of writing this has not been achieved and can
only thing these fierce but beautiful birds like to get to terra firma for long periods?However, during these visits
TEAL
have been extremely numerous, not even allowing me to estimate numbers,
GREYLAG GEESE
have
been there by the dozen as have Lapwing, Canada Geese, Black-headed
Gull along with a few Pintail, Shoveler, Mallard and Shelduck but the
best finds have been 2 species not encountered there before. In the
first instance my attention was drawn not only to the sight of a
guesstimate 200
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT,
some already starting to show the rufous vestiges of summer
plumage, but also the cacophony of their chatter as they fed in the
flooded margins. Next came c2
RUFF+,
an addition to the Dorset Year List, along with singles of Little Egret
and a singing Cetti's Warbler.
For
most of Saturday morning sanctuary was sort in the Tern Hide at
Blashford Lakes keeping out of the rain. Always a decent selection of
Waterfowl here which included Egyptian Goose (frantically trying to
'flush' into Dorset), a few Goldeneye (both sexes), Pintail, lots of
Little Grebe and pick of the bunch c2 Black-necked Grebe. However the
'title' was short lived as with continued patience a female
RUDDY DUCK
was spotted among the Pochard.
That's
when Bruce from Gillingham (Dorset not Kent) arrived, someone I have
known in birding circles for many a year but never got to know his
surname. He was pleased to see the birds mentioned, but beat a hasty
retreat when told of the continued presence of the Fudge Duck!
Being such a beautiful creature this image, from the archive, of a male
Ruddy Duck
is added for you pleasure.
Most
hours of daylight yesterday were given over to the pursuit of 'one
species', an addition to the Year List, but that also will have to be
Posted at a later date - my legs are freezing!
15/01 No additions
16/01 158 128
18/01 159 129
19/01 160 130
20/01 160 131
21/01 163 131
22/01 164 131
23/01 164 131
24/01 165 132
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