My List - The Killers

Still suffering from BTitis and poor weather we find ourselves still playing 'catch up'. Add to that the fact the single Brain Cell is like the Internet, only functioning when it feels like it, I can't honestly remember which day this Post refers to - whichever it was a good day starting at Longham Lakes and during a first 'all round scan' picked up on a group of birders intently looking in a single direction. They were, at the time, at the furthest point from me and during my brisk walk to find out what was going on didn't seem to move a muscle. Had they re-located the Penduline Tit, was it another Hoopoe or Ortolan, NO it was no more than giving the tree tops a good grilling for passerines (perching birds or less correctly songbirds). Regardless, it was good to meet up with the

EAST DORSET R.S.P.B. GROUP
(including long time birding friend Phil England) as she and her
cohorts put me onto a series of birds.

SHOVELER (male)+

SHOVELER (female)+ were additions to the
County Year List while

GADWALL (male)*

GADWALL (female)*
joined the others on the 2014 Year List.

NUTHATCH*

and SISKIN+ followed in quick succession

as the temptation became too great

not to snap away at this

(male) KESTREL

hovering in hunt over the reeds.

Then Surprise, Surprise the first Butterfly of the year a
PEACOCK.
Further to that, just the night before c2 Moths were attracted to the
security lights, one delicate little 'white thing' and the other flying like
a 'most unlikely' Hummingbird Hawk-moth - we'll never know!

COAL TIT+

GREEN WOODPECKER+
were both welcome additions but the small group of birds on a spit
had no 'list value' at all - but lovely to view.

c2 Little Egret with a single Mallard and a bunch of Black-headed Gulls.

While the rest of the County is gunwales under in flood water here at Longham, where such things are carefully controlled, the water level has been purposefully reduced even showing a decent stretch of foreshore.

MISTLE THRUSH
became the next + before moving on to Blashford Lakes just a
15 minute drive away in Hampshire. There, the

RED-CRESTED POCHARD*
took quite some finding while Great White Egret, Mealy Redpoll and
Marsh Tit evaded me completely - next time?

Driving back to Parley, via the Avon Causeway, on the A to B track would usually take 15 minutes but with no drop in flood water along the River Avon the road to Hurn Village remains closed. However, with the incentive of a Green-winged Teal on the flood-plain there the extra distance through the town of Christchurch to get back was considered well worth it. Bright sunlight was the bane here (yes here I go again) so 2 separate vantage points were used to 'scope the many hundreds of Eurasian Teal occupying what used to be 'dryish meadows'. The American Duck was not seen, but a pair of

GOOSANDER
(male right), feeding where once cattle grazed, were another bonus *.

                         UK           Dorset

01/01                 73                0

02/01                 91                0

03/01                 97                0

04/01               102                0

05/01               108                7

06/01               124              51

07/01               124              78

08/01               134              94

09/01               137            107 

With little or no change in Reader Statistics today the table is not shown.

WE ARE KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED FOR A 'POST' TOMORROW.

Paper LATE - Genesis

The flood waters may not have reached the house, but they are sure as hell playing havoc with the Internet. Plan B has been to use the office access but due to a late return yesterday that was bolted and barred so no Post - the GOOD NEWS - here's the Post!
The shores of Poole Harbour are always great for a diverse selection of birds, so a whole day was spent there with a good deal of success while missing what could be considered almost certainties. The view point at Evening Hill gives a chance to view the stretch of water between the mainland and Brownsea Island and the managed Lagoon at the other side. A small group of

AVOCET

were feeding veraciously but at such distance they were little more

than dots. No matter, closer views would be afforded later in the day.

These were an addition to the Dorset List unlike the lone

SPOONBILL*

that added to the Year*

OYSTERCATCHER+,

BAR-TAILED GODWIT+,

SANDERLING+ and

GREY PLOVER

(mostly in good numbers) were all new for the County along the

foreshore leading to the Sandbanks/Shell Bay Chain Ferry, while on

the other side

SHELDUCK was +

and BLACK-NECKED GREBE*

at Gerry's Point and soon after the arrival of another birder I managed

to re-locate the now 'long staying' Surf Scoter*.

The search for a Yellow-browed Warbler at Knoll Beach

drew a blank but a couple of male

BULLFINCH

provided a bit of compensation.

GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER*

was seen at the south car park at Studland and rather than paying

the fee at the Banks Arms park I simply waited for the

RING-NECKED PARAKEET*

to come to me.

The sight from the hide at Middlebere was one to behold, an estimated

500 Avocets with among them

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT+ and

SPOTTED REDSHANK*

not in this (summer) plumage I hasten to add.

Things were going rather well, but at Ovens Hill none of the 'certain'

Dartford Warblers showed sight or sound and neither did Stonechat.

However, there was to be another c3 bonus, a big one personally, as

LESSER REDPOLL*

has not been seen by me in Dorset for a few years now.

A 'fly-over' 

RAVEN* 

was also seen here, along with c2 more on my way back.

However, as the gloom was setting in there was just one other port of call, Poole Park for the 'first winter' male

GREATER SCAUP*

Blessed with fine weather throughout the day, it was just to good to last and on arrival the heavens opened up. I didn't even venture out of the car let alone attempt a photograph but feel this young Duck is worthy of a re-visit at some time.

                         UK           Dorset

01/01                 73                0

02/01                 91                0

03/01                 97                0

04/01               102                0

05/01               108                7

06/01               124              51

07/01               124              78

08/01               134              94

Entry	Pageviews
United Kingdom	973
United States	649
Germany	62
Estonia	51
Russia	43
France	22
Brazil	18
Canada	18
India	10
China	9

Bad Motor Sco(o)ter - Montrose (vox Eddie Van Halen)

There was a bit of a break in the weather today so we have been able to get out, but the Internet continues to 'play up' so again we catch up on a few images, mostly from the archive, of the species seen so far this year. When Comms are up and running again we will catch up with our wanderings and give details of number seen in Dorset along with those outside of the County.

 COMMON BUZZARD

 COMMON CROSSBILL

 COMMON SNIPE

GOLDCREST

 JAY

 LINNET

 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER

 REDWING

 SISKIN

SPARROWHAWK
Bad Motor Sco(o)ter (Eddie Van Halen vocals) 

For this run of Sea Duck images we have had to lean on Wiki.

 COMMON SCOTER
has only been seen in Norfolk thus far and without tempting providence
this species should not present a problem to see in the County during the year.

 VELVET SCOTER
likewise was seen in Norfolk and although it should be seen in
Dorset, at some stage, may present more of a problem than that above.

SURF SCOTER,
a rare bird indeed, it can be told has been seen in Dorset during the last couple of days.

Entry	Pageviews
United Kingdom	994
United States	627
Germany	69
Estonia	46
Russia	45
Canada	20
France	20
Brazil	18
India	12
China	8