RSPB Radipole Lake, Weymouth

Male Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus

 Saturday 13 May

Just after 11 when the ship disembarked at its final port of call at Portland harbour on our anti-clockwise cruise around the British Isles and I was able to take the "shuttle bus" into Weymouth , noting the Little Egret as I passed by the waters landside of Chesil Beach, and then walk on to the RSPB reserve at Radipole Lake. Interesting reserve open to the public in, almost, the centre of the town and after checking the water immediately in front of the Visitors Centre set off on a circuit of the site.  On the water a couple of resting Cormorant along with both Black-headed and Herring Gulls.  Just the single pair of both Pochard and Gadwall and twice that number of Mallard and Tufted Duck.  The Canada Geese were making sure that the gulls did not take advantage of their very young goslings by means if an early lunch whilst the Mute Swan just drifted idly by.  In the air a small number of feeding House Martins.

Male Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula

Making my way past the hedges and small trees that screened the reedbeds, I immediately became aware of both Wren and Robin and then both Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow passing overhead.  In the distance along the path a Magpie was busy foraging for food. Stopping at a viewing point in the reeds to my right I watched the pair of Reed Buntings that presumably had a nearby nest plus a visiting female House Sparrow.

Female House Sparrow Passer domesticus

The next little loop off the the left gave views over the main reedbed but no sign of the resident Bearded Tits.  However, there was a Chiffchaff in the tree to our right and above at least a dozen Common Swifts.  Moving on back to the main path I next encountered a handful of Chaffinches.  Meanwhile, the continuous singing of the Reed Warblers which was regularly interrupted by a noisy outpouring from one of the many Cetti's Warblers.

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo at rest

A Heron flew over and then I was at one of the open stretches of water which held a quartet of Cormorants along with both Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Ducks. A Coot paddled into view as I made my way to the final path taking me to the screen from which I could observe the Sand Martins.    On the water to the left both Canada Geese and Mallards plus a handful of Coot.  Away to the left a distant male Marsh Harrier was quartering the slope above the reeds.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia (far left) departing its nest hole

Watching the artificial Sand Martin wall was interesting in so much as the birds were actually landing on a damp area immediately in front of the viewing screen to collect, presumably, mud to make structual alterations to their nesting holes.  Sometimes not a bird in sight and minutes later more than a score entering or leaving the nest bank, with the holes not in site form the viewing point. And then along came a Magpie who seemed to spend considerable time trying to work out how to access the holes with a view to a free meal of eggs!

Magpie Pica pica investigating the Sand Martin colony

The final walk back tot he Visitors Centre produced both Dunnock and Sedge Warblers along with many of the species already seen, especially the many Cetti's and Reed Warblers, and upon arrival had time to note the birds seen upon my arrival before making my way to the railway station to catch the local bus to Portland Bill.  A most enjoyable couple of hours.

Canada Goose Branta canadensis plus Black-headed Gulls Larus ridibundus 

Then along came the six Canada Geese goslings

Birds seen:

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Marsh Harrier, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Swift, Sand Martin, House Martin, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Great Tit,  Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting.

Magpie Pica pica

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