A family day out offered an opportunity for a spot of
birding and a chance to catch up on a few species missing from my year list.
The morning began well while during our breakfast stop at Winchester services I
noted a single White Wagtail and Coal Tit from the comforts of our car. An hour
or so later we arrived on the outskirts of Poole Harbour and as the tide was
still low we stopped to have a quick pan with the bins over the salt marsh. Species of
note included Common Curlew, Common Redshank, Ruddy Turnstone and a large
gathering of some 50 or so Sanderling feeding along the shoreline.
Arriving at the Sandbanks chain ferry late morning and
during the five minute crossing we notched up a Sandwich Tern and a pair of Pale-bellied
Brent Goose. Twenty minutes later we arrived at Swanage and headed off to
Durlston Country Park to partake in the annual Easter egg hunt and of course a
spot of birding. Species of interest included Northern Fulmar (1), European
Shag (4), Peregrine Falcon (3 above Durlston Castle), Common Kestrel, Rock
Pipit, Northern Wheatear (1 male at
Anvil Point Lighthouse), Common Stonechat (male), Black Redstart (female) both
noted below Anvil Point Lighthouse, Meadow Pipit (3), Blackcap (1) and a single Common Raven drifting around
for several minutes along the cliffs and above Durlston Castle. After spending
a pleasant day in the sunshine and sea air it was time to return home and while
waiting for the chain ferry at Sandbanks we noted a grand total of 17 Red-breasted Merganser all
making their way out to sea from Poole Harbour in a ten minute period as the
sun began to set. Finally a stop off at Poole Harbour produced our last chance to view the feeding waders in the fading light notably a gathering
of some 50+ Godwits annoyingly unidentifiable due to poor light.
A full list of species noted as follows:-
Northern Fulmar, European Shag, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Brent Goose, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Common Pheasant, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Common Curlew, Common Redshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Sandwich Tern, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Feral Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, White Wagtail, Common Stonechat, Black Redstart, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Blackcap, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Raven, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet.
White Wagtail.
A full list of species noted as follows:-
Northern Fulmar, European Shag, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Brent Goose, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Common Pheasant, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Sanderling, Common Curlew, Common Redshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Sandwich Tern, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Feral Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Northern Wheatear, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, White Wagtail, Common Stonechat, Black Redstart, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Blackcap, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Raven, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Common Linnet.
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