The changing of the Header Photograph to the magnificent Giant Kingfisher, found across much of Africa, is likely clue enough to the fact that we have now entered another new month. However, with overnight temperature continuing at a balmy 5°C on Thursday and plummeting even further the following night to +3°C there has been little of interest from any of the Moth Traps. In likely a vain effort to get out of the doldrums we are going to try something novel, a 'First of the Mont 'Twitch', with photographic update as we work our way through the day. Given the time of year expectations are not high for a long list as according to my personal records, kept over 40+ years, show that August stands equal with January as the 7th most productive Dorset month with 203 species having been seen across that time. It would also be considered 'impossible' to capture every species seen on film so the archive will play a large part in the pictorial department. We may well have already 'shot our bolt' as far as scarce visitors to the Recording Area are concerned as yesterday's
CUCKOO
at Merritown Heath is now likely across the Channel
as the Nursery Rhyme says
In July away I fly
in August away I must!
while the
EGYPTIAN GOOSE
at the Gravel Pit didn't take at all well to my presence and last seen flying over
Hurn Forest.
As is the 'usual way' on such occasions both sightings and sound are counted
so was it a dream or was there 'calling' coming from the other side of the
River Stour at 03:33 precisely, this needed investigating.
Coming closer with our eyes and distance falls around our bodies,
out in the garden the Moon seems very bright!
Supper's Ready - Genesis
The first phase of the Waning Gibbous Moon was illuminating the
garden as if it were daylight and my suspicions were correct as
TAWNY OWL
opened the day's account. Considered a complete fluke as they have
seemingly remained mute for at least a month now.
A 04:00 coffee with the door of Slight II wide open awaiting the next
nocturnal call, we'll likely have the first update at daybreak.
HERRING GULL
were flying over towards their feeding grounds while more predictably
COOT
CARRION CROW
ROBIN
MUTE SWAN
MALLARD
MOORHEN
along with an obliging, 'fly-in',
GREY HERON
were logged.
While daybreak didn't exactly start with a 'Dawn Chorus'
most birds were vocal but none more so than the humble
WREN
of which during these first couple of hours amounted to c32 individuals.
SONG THRUSH
BLACKBIRD
PHEASANT
BLUE TIT
COMMON BUZZARD
and
WOOD PIGEON
all followed in quick succession during the walk to the riverside where
the second 'bonus bird' took some time to locate.
GARDEN WARBLER
is 'scarce' here so more than a welcome addition.
The 30 minute outbound stroll produced a party of c6
MISTLE THRUSH
GREEN WOODPECKER
and
WILLOW WARBLER
but it wasn't until the return leg that
KINGFISHER
GOLDFINCH
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER
STOCK DOVE
much hoped for
REED WARBLER
KESTREL
(one of five in quick succession)
plus
GREENFINCH
were picked up.
As is the 'usual way' on such occasions both sightings and sound are counted
so was it a dream or was there 'calling' coming from the other side of the
River Stour at 03:33 precisely, this needed investigating.
out in the garden the Moon seems very bright!
Supper's Ready - Genesis
The first phase of the Waning Gibbous Moon was illuminating the
garden as if it were daylight and my suspicions were correct as
opened the day's account. Considered a complete fluke as they have
seemingly remained mute for at least a month now.
A 04:00 coffee with the door of Slight II wide open awaiting the next
nocturnal call, we'll likely have the first update at daybreak.
Post Dawn Update with the obvious starting point being this beat of the River via a slight detour arond Parley Pond. There
were flying over towards their feeding grounds while more predictably
along with an obliging, 'fly-in',
were logged.
While daybreak didn't exactly start with a 'Dawn Chorus'
most birds were vocal but none more so than the humble
of which during these first couple of hours amounted to c32 individuals.
PHEASANT
and
all followed in quick succession during the walk to the riverside where
the second 'bonus bird' took some time to locate.
is 'scarce' here so more than a welcome addition.
The 30 minute outbound stroll produced a party of c6
and
but it wasn't until the return leg that
REED WARBLER
(one of five in quick succession)
plus
were picked up.
Rapidly approaching 07:00 now and all we needed, like a hole in the head, was a Pigeon Shoot the retorts from which are coming loud and clear from the direction of the Little Owl site - Fat Chance we would predict. More before noon.
The round-about Noon Update
The continuing fusillade 'put to bed' any ambitions of adding to the Day List in the Southern Sector, even though a fruitless try for both Little Owl and Nuthatch was made. The drive north was a little more bountiful as
The round-about Noon Update
The continuing fusillade 'put to bed' any ambitions of adding to the Day List in the Southern Sector, even though a fruitless try for both Little Owl and Nuthatch was made. The drive north was a little more bountiful as
JACKDAW
SWALLOW
CHAFFINCH
HOUSE SPARROW
MAGPIE
and a
bedraggled juvenile
WHITETHROAT
joined the collective.
Things looked less than promising at the Irrigation Pond, while as
predicted there was no sign of yesterday's
Egyptian Goose
or anything else for that matter, the 'saving grace coming in the form
of an overflying
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
The feeling wasn't particularly positive as the corner was rounded to the
Gravel Pit
and the imaginary
VACANCY SIGN.
This is where the 'bread and butter' certainties for the day were expected,
but long years have weened me away from such thoughts.
No Green Sandpiper, no Canada Goose, not even a Pied Wagtail
and only at the very last knockings was a single
GREY WAGTAIL
spotted.
Trusty and reliable the
COAL TIT(s)
at Gibbet's Firs didn't let us down.
Now looking for a streak of good luck it quickly manifested itself in
the most unexpected way as we headed for the Sewerage Works.
It was thought likely that a 'Bookie' would likely give odds of
1000 to 1 against seeing a second
CUCKOO
in as many days, but that is just what happened as a single flew in
front of the car, perched briefly on the Solar Panel Fence before
disappearing and not being seen again.
The List Increases!
The Sewerage Works, or more particularly the perimeter hedge that
separates it from Parley Court Farm is usually a hot-bed of Bird-life
and today was to be no exception.
SAND MARTIN
was an unusual starter here, but more likely were
BLACK-HEADED GULL
but only a single all morning,
RAVEN
which can be seen literally anywhere here,
DUNNOCK
abundant in this hedge and at long last a
PIED WAGTAIL
and
STARLING
CHIFFCHAFF
was considered pot-luck but recently colonised
COLLARED DOVE
are all but guaranteed.
The distant cackling of more than one
CANADA GEESE
proved useful and just as hopes were running thin out of a bush popped
GOLDCREST
The morning could have been better, but they always can, so back to
Slight Return II to deal with the Moths, force down a few slices of
Brunswich ham and Jarlsburg lovingly placed between 2 slices of
Mr Warburton's finest 5-seeded, a cup of coffee and Post this update
before hitting the road again.
While nothing is in Tablets of Stone
we envisage the next update to be at about 18:00.
18:00 is near enough, so we will call this The 18:00 Update.
Without delay we headed for
Merritown Heath
where at the 5-bar gate there were a number of small birds
in the adjacent bushes, but all lost without identification.
All that is but one which decided to linger and showed itself to be a
BLACKCAP
(female)
and before locking behind me a kerfuffle from above produced
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL
All of the 3 larger Gulls nest on the hanger roofs at
Bournemouth International Airport
so were fairly certain, but anyway now secured.
'Scoping that area, the big surprise at the perimeter fence were the number of
HOUSE MARTIN
(an estimated 50)
Given the number of juvenile birds it is thought that they too must
have bred among the Airport buildings.
Nothing is certain in 'Birding' which the trio of CERTAINTIES
on the Heath itself tried very had to endorse.
It was a full 30 minutes before the first
DARTFORD WARBLER
was heard, let alone seen and even then there were only a meager
half-dozen.
LINNET
always the most numerous of the 3 were represented by just 2 individuals
while the dozen or so
STONECHAT
of the previous day (mostly juveniles) were also reduced to a single 'pair'.
Heading for the woodland the task became even more arduous as
another 'age' past by without an addition, eventually being rectified
by the arrival of a decent size foraging party of
LONG-TAILED TIT
but very much confining themselves to the canopy.
That's when luck changed for the better as that 'wispy call' could only be
TREECREEPER
a pair in fact which performed at close range for a full 5 minutes.
Camera? Oh, left in the car on the Heath - yes we know!
No sooner had they disappeared that an unknown number,
thought to be small, of
SISKIN
showed up but again it was a longish wait for another bird that is daily
here and has bred successfully.
Leaving the Heath and arriving at the Solar Panel fence the unimaginable
thought struck me that we would give the area behind the
Eco Recycling Plant
a miss. Whatever brought on this mental abrasion is still not known,
but the thought passed over as a small bird was noted perch on one of the panels.
MEADOW PIPIT
one of only c3 seen during the entire day.
This was also the only place
GREEN SANDPIPER
was recorded, and even then only a brief flight view.
LAPWING
was also difficult given the numbers that reside here and only found within the
Solar Panel Compound.
Although recorded earlier in the day, the family party of c5 Ravens
had returned to this site, but not a Skylark to be seen/heard.
Before coming back to Slight II another sortie to try for the
Little Owl
where the bridleway was something similar to a Motorway on a
Bank Holiday Friday - no chance! There was however small
recompense with a very brief view of a
JAY
Also still outstanding, along with Skylark and the Owl, are Great Tit, Bullfinch, at the very least, and the minor matter of adding Woodcock to the Dorset August List. This will mean another visit to Merritown at dusk the result of which we will have to add (or not) later. For now it is hoped you have enjoyed this bit of FUN for that is all it has meant to be - Thanks for Tuning In!
Surely the Final Countdown (Europe) of what has been a
Most Enjoyable Day
has to go under the heading of
Desperate Times call for Desperate Measures!
After my usual Saturday evening repast, consisting of seared King Prawns, Spring Onion and Red Capsicum folded into 'new laid' Scrambled Eggs it was time to take to The Field again. The expression is used in the loosest of sense as there seems to be something a little underhand about 'scrumping' a
GREAT TIT
from the Harbins Farm House Bird Table but when needs must.
TICK!
Where the others have got to heaven knows, so we then took our
seat in the rapidly setting sun, watching the skies for the early evening
movement of Hirundines and the odd
COMMON SWIFT
In addition it was profitable to keep and eye and an ear on the
local Swallows flying each evening above the Farm House Garage
where they nest. It ain't rocket science to know that once those birds
start 'alarming' and swooping towards Earth - something is amiss.
This nearly always means one of the 2 local
SPARROWHAWK
are staking out the afore mentioned feeding station with
more sinister intent than myself.
It was good to have got to the Great Tit before it did!
So working on the theory of 'Third Time Lucky it was off again to try my luck with
So working on the theory of 'Third Time Lucky it was off again to try my luck with
where at the Horse Paddocks everything was now quiet except for one of the
LITTLE OWL
LITTLE OWL
Gotcha!
Always having been an advocate of making one's own Luck,
you won't get any unless you get out and chase it.
Now how about this. Driving back past the Manor there perched on the roof
of one of the refurbished barns was this
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE
no chance to alter the iso it was a case of capture the moment before it disappeared,
as it quickly did!
Here's a real one.
A quickish drive back to Merritown Heath where on the way a second
Sparrowhawk was seen and surprisingly the Cuckoo was still there.
Additionally, both Nightjar and Woodcock recorded bringing the
Day Tally to
67
We can only hope the READER enjoyed the journey as much as the WRITER.
22:15, wine time then back into the hammock.
MOON RISE over MERRITOWN HEATH
Good Night.
Always having been an advocate of making one's own Luck,
you won't get any unless you get out and chase it.
Now how about this. Driving back past the Manor there perched on the roof
of one of the refurbished barns was this
as it quickly did!
A quickish drive back to Merritown Heath where on the way a second
Sparrowhawk was seen and surprisingly the Cuckoo was still there.
Additionally, both Nightjar and Woodcock recorded bringing the
Day Tally to
67
We can only hope the READER enjoyed the journey as much as the WRITER.
22:15, wine time then back into the hammock.
Good Night.
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