Dorset Birding

Male Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata

Sunday/Monday 10/11 March

The original plan was to spend Sunday morning at RSPB Arne before working our way back o Poole harbour for our overnight having also visited a few of the sites around Lytchett Bay on the final journey.  Come Sunday a sail over to Brownsea Island on the ferry or a cruise round the greater harbour before working our way back to Warsash with a possible visit to Blashford Lakes to check if the Bittern was still present as we passed through Ringwood.  What could go wrong?  Almost everything evidently.

Leaving home in time to arrive at RSPB Arne by 10 o'clock we were welcome by a noisy group of Jackdaws and the occasional Carrion Crow to commence an anti-clockwise tour of the reserve in dry, overcast skies but neither rain nor wind. The initial feeding station was very active with many Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinches and Siskins plus the occasional Goldfinch and foraging Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds.  Heading up and through the trees before dropping down to the Shipstal shoreline we added Woodpigeons and then the sight of a fifty Oystercatchers and a lone Curlew.  Further out a relatively nearby Red-breasted Merganser with a further five in deeper water.  Working round to get a closer view and a photograph we were most disappointed to have a pair of jet skis come closer inshore and drive everything away. All that was left were a pair of Herring and Black-headed Gull.  At that point a flock of seventy Brent Geese flew past and headed further into the harbour.

Poole Harbour from Shipsal Hide with Brownsea Island just visible extreme right at top

Moving on round to the Shipstal Hide we noticed another pair of Red-breasted Mergansers on the open water and then distant views of Wigeon and the Brent Geese in front of us.  Using the scope we found a pair of Avocet plus Dunlin, Redshank, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and Canada Geese. To the far left a party of seven Cormorant were preening and bathing and the nearby Heron flew away and past me to the delight of others present in the hide, and also revealing a distant Little Egret. Time to make our way back to the Visitors Centre and car park to complete the circuit.  Passing through the Big Wood a distant Green Woodpecker and then the heavens opened leaving us to cover the final fifteen minutes in drenching rain and so leaving us to try and recover over a hot coffee and cake.

Brent geese Branta bernicla with a Shelduck Tadorna tadorna

With the rain lasting a wetting 75 minutes no point in any more birding so made our way back to Poole harbour and our hotel where we were able to check-in early and change into dry clothes. So much local flooding with very high water levels and many Mute Swans making use of the new facility.  Indeed, even a walk along the harbour quayside revealed scavenging Herring Gulls checking the fish boxes and a dozen Turnstone looking for scraps on the quayside.

Awake very early on Sunday morning and away from the hotel before 7.30 to visit the Turlin Bird Screen overlooking Lytchett Bay but, in the event, very disappointing even though attending at the recommended high tide. As I arrived a Black-headed Gull flew over and there were Starlings resting on the nearby houses.  Walking to the screen a number of House Sparrows, Blue Tits and Chaffinches were in the bushes and a little further away both Carrion Crow and Magpie.  From the screen away to my left twenty resting Oystercatchers which were joined by a dozen Redshank and even further away a handful of Shelduck. A Blackbird few past and looking at the opposite bank I could make out a small number of Wigeon along with a pair of Canada Geese and a Mallard.  making my way back to the car a few Woodpigeon were recorded.

Cock Pheasant Phasianus colchicus with two hen Pheasants

So on to Lytchett Bay View to the eat of the bay.  Much the same as the first stop but immediately in front of me two Snipe upped out of the reeds to lass in front of me before dropping out of sight to the right. A handful of Blackbirds plus Great Tits along with a closer view of a Little Egret and, returning to the car, a Collared Dove.  

Teal Anas crecca with a couple of Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa

Taking the advice of a local birder who joined me in time to see the Snipe, I decided I would drive on round to the top of the bay so that I could walk through Lytchett Fields to Rock Lea View. More flooded roads on the way and then a walk along the lane to Lytchett Fields, seeing both Dunnock and a lovely singing Song Thrush, where I stopped to both look at the flooded field with bird life at the back a a feeding station to my left alongside the hedge.  A dozen or more Brown Rats feeding on the dropped seed below the feeders (and some where very large indeed!) but seemed not to bother the feeing birds.  Mainly Blue and Great Tits but also a few Chaffinches and more Reed Buntings than I had seen for many a month.  On the other side of the field near the flood water, a small flock of Teal along with a dozen Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Little Egret. Also present on the field Blackbird, Carrion Crow and Woodpigeon but, right in front of me, a (true) pair of Pheasants possibly sizing up a potential nesting platform.  So on tot he final short walk to the Rock Lea View platform.  A Mallard on the water in front of me along with a resting Cormorant and a lone Lesser Black-backed Gull. More tits, Blackbirds and Robins as I made my way back to the car for the journey back to the hotel.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos

Back at the hotel so that we could check out by 9.30 and head of to the Quayside only to discover that there are no harbour cruises and the Brownsea ferry does not recommence until next Saturday!  So a drive into Bournemouth and then on down to Christchurch and a visit to Stanpit overlooking the harbour.  Horrendous flooding on the Avon in this area so more Mute Swans about and mainly Black-headed Gulls and Wigeon seen at Stanpit.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

Time to move on and pay a visit to Blashford Lakes which was less than a dozen miles away.  Having passed the active rookery with its colony of Rooks as we approached, straight to Ivy North Hide but no sighting (or sound) of the Bittern today.  On the water plenty of Wigeon along with Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall and Tufted Duck. Also present, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Moorhen, Canada Goose, Black-headed Gull and Carrion Crow.

Pintail Anas acuta

Moving on down through the trees to the Woodland Hide I was surprised by the number of Siskins to be seen along with both Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Robin and Dunnock.  Even both a Chiffchaff and a Long-tailed Tit present.  Then, observing the pair of Collared Doves as we made our way back to the car, it was over to Ibsley Water to check what might or might not be present.  Hundreds of Pintail along with scores of both Shoveler and Tufted Duck plus a few Cormorant and a small number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  A Pied Wagtail was seen on the bank to my right and then, upon leaving the water, both Jackdaws and Rock Doves.  Finally, driving away form the site a pair of Stonechat on the moor as we headed eastwards through the New Forest.

Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata (female left)

Chance for one last stop at Eyeworth Pond where we found no less than seven Mandarin Ducks, five male and two females.  Just the one pair of Mallard and a lone Moorhen but plenty of Blue and Great Tits along with a number of Chaffinches and a Dunnock.  A pair of Canada Geese were at the back of the water and nearby both Blackbird and Carrion Crow. As we were about to set off for Warsash and home a Marsh Tit visited the feeding station and we said our final goodbyes with the sight of both Rock Doves and Starlings so giving a final tally of 55 species for the two days.

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Birds seen:

Brent Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Dunlin, Snipe,  Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting.

Greenfinch Carduelis chloris with Siskins Carduelis spinus above

Male Siskin Carduelis spinus

Female Siskin Carduelis spinus

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