The Bagsy Blog: 03/10/14

Monday, 10 March 2014

Yellow - Coldplay

Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And everything you do
Yeah, they were all Yellow

Although a little cooler than the last couple of days, it has been another sparkling sunny day resulting in yesterday having to wait. The photos from Sunday were already in the 'can', but with today having been what may be described as a Classic Birding Day it's a case of "today or not today, that is the question"? With all 3 Moth Traps now operational it was no surprise that again we had a couple of additions to the Parley List with one of these being new to myself. Before the weather had even turned warmer long periods were spent looking at the Web-Sites to see which species were most likely to be caught at this time of year and started to fantasise over one that previously had not even been heard of. Unfortunately, the c2 taken from the traps this morning were initially mis-identified as Nut-tree Tussock until advised by my learn-ed friend that they are in fact the far more scarce

YELLOW HORNED

A closer look at the 'horns' (antennae) should have been a clue

but completely overlooked.

DOTTED BORDER

had been caught before, in a previous life, but now there was something

of an urgency to 'get going' and act on information received yesterday.

Arriving at the northern end of Warehan Forest the trees appeared full

of birds including

FIELDFARE

MISTLE THRUSH

REDWING

along with loads of Finches and Tits. There was already a familiar face there (Ian) but he had not seen or heard the birds in question. He stayed only a few minutes leaving me to search alone, but that too didn't last long as Jill Bale and here friend the other Jill arrived not aware of what might be seen. Our conversation was short lived as I heard the familiar 'rapid drumming' of a

LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER

with all attention now focused on a point some 300 yards away.

Reaching a second clump of Oak Trees in the adjacent field one bird was quickly located followed by a second. They were on view for no more than 3 or 4 minutes during which time we were treated to further drumming, calling, singing, climbing and finally flying as they disappeared among the Alders. If that had been the days 'birding' over I would have been more than happy, but there was more to come. Note - All 3 resident Woodpeckers were seen and heard today, while the 2 photos above are from the archive as both birds were far too distant and mobile to capture today! It would hardly be sense to visit this location and not Ovens Hill which was the next port of call, with again everything being vocal.

YELLOWHAMMER

which has not be seen here for many a year was the first songster

to be located atop a Pine tree.

It quickly moved to an Alder

then to Gorse

where the singing continued.

Along with most other places in the country Dorset has seen a

dramatic decline in numbers of this smart little bird

so no apologies for the number of photos, there's no knowing

when you might see one again.

Just sitting quietly on a tree stump another Yellowhammer turned

up, but it was the calls and brief songs of

DARTFORD WARBLER

that were now meeting the ear with each, from different directions

being followed up.

In all there were c7 distinctly different birds

with only c2 showing themselves.

During this time a

STONECHAT

was continually calling

with this image also from the archive to give a clearer picture.

Next, and heading back towards Parley, it was thought worth an hour

or so 'scoping the low tide mud in Holes Bay from the

Upton Country Park.

It was immediately apparent here that the recent weather had taken its toll on several of the trees, this mighty OAK having been snapped like a carrot. However, the wind never gets all of the leviathans this

BEECH

(think we have the spelling right this time Janet)

and another OAK

The usual contenders such as Redshank, Curlew, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Little Egret etc were seen here in numbers, but having just left a fellow 'birder', exchanging sightings, the unexpected flew into view.

ICELAND GULL*

have been frequent visitors along the Dorset coast-line this year, but thus far my efforts to see one had been in vain. The one spotted today was a 1st winter bird unlike the one in the photograph which again is from the archive. A cursory look was had for Common Sandpiper, which often over-winter here, but there have been no reports of any in the county so far as I know? Return via the same track lots of