With our wanderings up and down the American sub-continent by no means over
it was thought a change may be as good as a rest?
Still much more, and the BEST, still to come from that regeion and elsewhere
but thought a little respite might be in order so decided to publish our
galivantings of yesterday.
Good Day? How could in not be to share the company of
Number One Apprentise Chloe, the Sun was out from start to finish with the only element
as 'fly in the ointment' being that persistant wind from the westerly quarter!
It kicked off the night before when we set a new version of the
Light Emitting Diode Moth Trap
and finding a small success on Sunday morning,
a single
HEBREW CHARACTER
Otherwise it was a trip around
Poole Harbour
second only in size to Sydney.
Arriving from the direction of Oakdale, Poole Park was virtually devoid of Birds
with the trend continuing up to Sandbanks. It was 08:00 and with low water an hour earlier
it was considered there might be a Wader or 2 but only
Oystercatcher
and Curlew for our labours -
what has happened to what used to be the hundreds of small Wader along this stretch of days gone by?? It was the small number of
BRENT GEESE
that were of interest here a new species for Chloe
and the first for myself in Dorset this year.
Reaching the southern side of the
Sandbank Ferry
the trend of absence of particularly Waders continued.
It wasn't until arrival at
North Beach Studland
and looking out to
Old Harry Rocks
that more avian interest developed with c2 more lifers for Chloe a lone
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
(a first of the year for me)
along with c5 distant
BLACK-NECKED GREBE
Only because of an accute adiction, once parked in the other village car park,
was I (we) compelled to go and take at least a peek at
the Saxon church of St Nicholas close by.
It was also a chance to introduce Chloe to a
KISSING GATE
and gallant as ever managed to restrain myself.
The absolute 'Star Bird' of the day for her could already be heard some way off,
but despite the vocals of this Jackdaw size bird, its all bright green colouration with
bright pink bill, they can take some spotting!
After passing the
PIG (restaurant) on the Hill and while still in search mode there was time for a
BIRD'S of a FEATHER
selfie before spotting the good stuff.
Plastic, Introduces whatever Handle you want to put on it the
RING-NECKED PARAKEET
is an absolute 'belter'!
A stop for the view across
Poole Harbour and the attendant Heathlands
atop Studland Hill is always worth it before reaching an all too short look at
Corfe Castle
built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror in short
to block a gap in the
Purbeck Hills
Reaching
Hartland Moor and
what else would you expect to see other than
the obvious
HIGHLAND CATTLE
before taking the track down to the
rented cottages which I always feel smack of
Thomas Hardy - The Bard
(not to be confussed with Admiral Nelson's sea Captain of the same name) and the
Middlebere Bird Hide
where luck was certainly on our side
before even gaining entry
when spotting c2
SPOONBILLs
feeding varaciously.
The final Bird of the day did take a bit of reconciling as at distance
but considered without doubt to be a
SPOTTED REDSHANK
with images and video taken from our archive.
"Who knows where we might be tomorrow, but we hope you all tune in again"!
