A different day today, got up late to a breezy morning and
some of the local birders had already arrived and were talking about the
Short-billed Dowitcher that was at Lodmoor RSPB reserve near Weymouth, originally
identified as a Long-billed Dowitcher and still a little bit of contention over
the ID. We decided to take a look, so four of us drove to Lodmoor and went to
the area where the bird had last been seen. Four hours later, we still had not
seen it and as I had not yet had breakfast or a shower, we decided to head back
to the Obs.
In the mean time, the number of birders was beginning to grow,
as this was only the second record for the UK.
Shortly after getting back, the bird was seen (typical!, although I saw the one in Sep 99 in Scotland). However there was plenty to
look at whilst there, Godwits, Little Egret, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Med Gull, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Lapwing,
Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and a Hobby to name but a few.
An interesting note is that an estimated ten thousand
Swallow and up to two hundred Yellow Wagtail roosted at Lodmoor last night.
Anyway, after brunch and a shower I decided to stay on Portland
and get some birding in, I decided to take a look at the obs garden, “top fields” and “Culverwell”
and saw the following. Approximately twenty Willow Warbler, a dozen Chiffchaff,
five Spotted Flycatcher, two Pied Flycatcher, a Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Reed
Warbler, two Lesser Whitethroat, three Whitethroat, a Redstart, Whinchat, three
Yellow Wagtail, five Wheatear, Goldcrest (heard), Little Owl, two
Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine, also again a steady trickle of Hirundines passing
through.
The sea hardly got a look in today.
We decided to keep the Convolvulus Hawk Moth overnight in the fridge (honest it doesn’t do them any harm) and
take a few shots today.
Butterflies and Dragonflies very much the same.
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