Phil, Martin Bevan and myself took a jaunt down to the south coast on Sunday, the big draw being the adult Ross's Gull hanging around the Weymouth area. A quick stop at Radipole, just after 7am, brought little joy so it was over to Lodmoor. After parking up and making our way over to the scrapes we soon found groups of loafing gulls. After quickly checking through the first group and finding nothing of interest we quickly moved on to the second group. Almost the first bird I looked at was the Ross's Gull and quickly got the other two onto it. Not long after I phoned it into the bird services around a dozen birders had appeared and enjoyed great looks at this diminutive high Arctic specices before if took off and headed out to sea.
On the walk back to the car we met a couple of birders who on asking if it was still showing were disappointed to learn it had flown as both had dipped it several times the day before. One had traveled back to Essex the previous evening - some 200mls each way. We hope he caught up with the Gull later that day as we are all to familiar with the journey home after a long distance dip.
Next up was the long-staying Stilt Sandpiper, currently residing at Stanpit Marsh just outside Bournemouth. By 9:30 we were on site and working through the waders feeding at the waters edge. Whether it was something to do with the rugby the day before but my birding finding radar cut through the flock like Huw Jones thru the English defence and quickly located the Sandpiper. Moving closer we enjoyed much better views that our first, some years back in Gloucestershire.
Where next? a quick conference saw us head to Morden Bog to look for what was fast becoming a bogey bird for us these days - a Great Grey Shrike. Some 10 minutes after parking up, I spot the Shrike and although we never got close it was nice to nail the species this winter.
Our luck had to change at some point, and it did as we visited Arne for raptors and Dartford Warb's. Whether it was down to the cold wind, or just second half fatigue, the warbers didn't show and the only raptor was a Kestrel by the car park. A couple of Spoonbills provided some compensation but initially fleeting views of a few Sika Deer followed by a closer encounter with several does, some with last years fawns, were the highlight.
Rather strangely, we had managed to park legally at several places in Dorset without incurring any parking charges, probably a first for all of us!
We then started the long trip home, with plans to stop off at Marshfield for Corn Bunting and Partridge. As we were bypassing Bath, we were suddenly confronted with a toll gate. Phil's Satnav hadn't mentioned anything about a toll road. Fortunately it was just 80p and we were quickly on our way again. It looked like this was a toll bridge that had been in existence for a long time, possibly hundereds of years.
Arriving at Marshfield, we were hardly out of the car when I found the first pair of Red-legged Partridge and these were quickly followed by the first of over 100 Corn Buntings. Yellowhammer took a lot more work than last year at this site but one was eventually found.
All that was left was the traditional dip of the Short-eared Owls at Awst and we duly complied.
On the walk back to the car we met a couple of birders who on asking if it was still showing were disappointed to learn it had flown as both had dipped it several times the day before. One had traveled back to Essex the previous evening - some 200mls each way. We hope he caught up with the Gull later that day as we are all to familiar with the journey home after a long distance dip.
Next up was the long-staying Stilt Sandpiper, currently residing at Stanpit Marsh just outside Bournemouth. By 9:30 we were on site and working through the waders feeding at the waters edge. Whether it was something to do with the rugby the day before but my birding finding radar cut through the flock like Huw Jones thru the English defence and quickly located the Sandpiper. Moving closer we enjoyed much better views that our first, some years back in Gloucestershire.
Where next? a quick conference saw us head to Morden Bog to look for what was fast becoming a bogey bird for us these days - a Great Grey Shrike. Some 10 minutes after parking up, I spot the Shrike and although we never got close it was nice to nail the species this winter.
Our luck had to change at some point, and it did as we visited Arne for raptors and Dartford Warb's. Whether it was down to the cold wind, or just second half fatigue, the warbers didn't show and the only raptor was a Kestrel by the car park. A couple of Spoonbills provided some compensation but initially fleeting views of a few Sika Deer followed by a closer encounter with several does, some with last years fawns, were the highlight.
Rather strangely, we had managed to park legally at several places in Dorset without incurring any parking charges, probably a first for all of us!
We then started the long trip home, with plans to stop off at Marshfield for Corn Bunting and Partridge. As we were bypassing Bath, we were suddenly confronted with a toll gate. Phil's Satnav hadn't mentioned anything about a toll road. Fortunately it was just 80p and we were quickly on our way again. It looked like this was a toll bridge that had been in existence for a long time, possibly hundereds of years.
Arriving at Marshfield, we were hardly out of the car when I found the first pair of Red-legged Partridge and these were quickly followed by the first of over 100 Corn Buntings. Yellowhammer took a lot more work than last year at this site but one was eventually found.
All that was left was the traditional dip of the Short-eared Owls at Awst and we duly complied.
Good start to new year and always great to see Ross Gull .
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