Late afternoon at Woodoaks Farm

A late afternoon visit produced a wonderful female Common Stonechat along the main track. It busily fed on insects despite being harried by the resident European Robin. A single Black Redstart gave the briefest of views near the old black barn and a lone Coal Tit was located at Ladywalk Wood. Below the old orchard a pair of Little Owl nestled amongst a Hawthorn adjacent the horse paddock.

Dorset Birding

It's been quite a while since I last uploaded a post on here due mainly to other commitments.
A few days away with my family to Swanage gave me the opportunity to visit Durlston Country Park. An early morning walk on the 4th September provided the following species:-

Northern Gannet 3, Shag 4, Great Black backed Gull 7, Herring Gull 9, Peregrine Falcon 1, Feral Rock Dove 35, Woodpigeon 9, Green Woodpecker 2, Common Stonechat 3, Grey Wagtail (2), European Robin 11, Common Blackbird 1, Wren 6, Dunnock 4, Greater Whitethroat 2, Common Chiffchaff 3, Long-tailed Tit 5, Blue Tit 4, Great Tit 2, Magpie 7, Jackdaw 25, Carrion Crow 5, Common Raven 2, Common Linnet 10 Eurasian Bullfinch 5.

Whilst walking the coastal path above the cliffs a Peregrine Falcon provided very close views while it rested between hunting sorties.

Identity crisis

On the 6th May I heard a very unusual bird song coming from scrub behind my back yard. At first I thought I was listening to a Chiffchaff but the song ended like that of Willow Warbler. I managed to entice the bird closer and in to my garden by imitating the call of Willow Warbler and this ploy seemed to work. Attached are a couple of photos of the bird taken from my garden as it sang from my neighbours Rowan. I'm uncertain as to the identity of the bird in question, it looked very Willow Warbler like with the exception of having  darkish legs. I'll post video of the song if I'm successful in downloading it onto my PC, fingers crossed.

Woodoaks Farm

I visited late morning and hoped to relocate the male Yellow Wagtail that had been recorded yesterday, unfortunately it did not show. I followed the footpath beyond the dung heap where I discovered a singing male Common Whitethroat in the largest of three bushes that fringe the path. At Ladywalk Wood a pair of Ring-necked Parakeet were present at a nest located in an old woodpecker hole high up in a large Ash. 

A full list of species observed as follows:-

Mallard (3), Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (1), Common Kestrel (1), Black-headed Gull (4), Stock Dove (5), Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker (2), Ring-necked Parakeet (pair), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Skylark (5 including four singing male), Common Whitethroat (1), Blackcap (3 including two singing male), Common Chiffchaff (4 including singing male), Goldcrest, Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush (1), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling (25 feeding among horses), House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Bullfinch (male), Common Linnet (pair).

                                                           Common Chiffchaff.

Grasshopper Warbler at Ellenbrook Fields

After receiving info of at least two Grasshopper Warblers at this site yesterday I decided to make a morning visit myself today. I parked up in Notcutts Garden Centre and walked along the footpath thats runs parallel the garden centre parimeter. Eventualy I arrived at the red and white gate that is located at the far end of the footpath and where the birds had been present the previous day. It took me at least half an hour before I finally heard the distinct reeling call of a single bird which I eventually located. I sat quietly among the grass while the bird slowly moved in my direction and before too long it was singing in full view on top of a small patch of brambles. 

A full list of species observed as follows:-
Little Grebe (1), Greylag Goose (5), Mallard (1), Mandarin Duck (drake), Eurasian Coot, Red Kite (1), Common Kestrel (1), Common Pheasant, Northern Lapwing (1), Lesser Black-backed Gull (2), Stock Dove (3), Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker (2), Common Cuckoo (singing male), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Skylark, Common Whitethroat (singing male), Lesser Whitethroat (2 singing male), Blackcap, Willow Warbler (2 singing male), Common Grasshopper Warbler (singing male), Common Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay, Common Magpie, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet.

16-03-16 Broadwater Gravel Pit

A late morning visit provided the following species:-

Great Crested Grebe (15 inc 3 pairs), Great Cormorant (at least 15 occupied nests with some containing young), Grey Heron (4), Mute Swan (8 inc pair), Greylag Goose (pair), Canada Goose (16 all pairs), Egyptian Goose (pair), Common Shelduck (pair on Harefield Lake), Eurasian Wigeon (7), Gadwall (2), Common Teal (16), Mallard (pair), Northern Shoveler (3), Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Red-crested Pochard (male), Common Goldeneye (4), Goosander (2), Water Rail (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Red Kite (2), Common Buzzard (1), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (female), Eurasian Oystercatcher (1), Northern Lapwing (5), Black-headed Gull (at least 7 pairs on Tern rafts), Common Gull (4), Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Grey Wagtail (5 inc pair along River Colne), Pied Wagtail (1), Ring-necked Parakeet (4), Wren (singing male), Dunnock (2 singing male), European Robin (singing male), Cetti’s Warbler (3 singing male), Common Chiffchaff (6 inc singing male), Common Blackbird (2), Goldcrest (2 singing male), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (singing male), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie (pair), Western Jackdaw (pair), Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Goldfinch (1), Common Reed Bunting (1).






   


      

24-02-16 Woodoaks Farm

Red Kite (1), Common Buzzard (2), Black-headed Gull (c250), Feral Rock Dove (3), Stock Dove (95), Woodpigeon, Collared Dove (12), Little Owl (pair in old orchard), Great Spotted Woodpecker (1), Pied Wagtail (c30), Meadow Pipit (2), Wren, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Mistle Thrush (pair), Firecrest (2+), Goldcrest (1), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch.
 

                                    One of a possible three Firecrest at Ladywalk Wood.

Other observers have now confirmed that three birds were present with the most recent sighting noted on the 25th Feb at 17:00 in the vicinity of the dump area at Ladywalk Wood.