Stoke Common Stonechats

 A visit to Stoke Common as part of a "Big Birding Weekend" event produced a lovely family party of Stonechats.

Stonechat - the female

Male

Stonechat - A juvenile.  There were certainly others present.

Lodmoor Waders again

 A final visit to Lodmoor on the last day of our holiday, after a change in the weather, with a warm front coming in along with drizzle.  I was hoping a few more waders might have dropped in.

No sign of the Wood Sandpiper but Four Whimbrel, a Greenshank and several Bar-tailed Godwits were almost certainly new arrivals.

I was greeted by this trio of species.  A Whimbrel, Greenshank and Bar-tailed Godwit.

Whimbrel

Bar-tailed Godwits - and below in flight

Greenshank

Oystercatcher - No doubt breeding at the reserve

Ferrybridge Birding

 I decided to try Ferrybridge and the area of Chesil beach where the Little Tern colony is.  I arrived a little late and the tide had covered most of the mud flats, so I walked across part of Chesil Beach to see if any Little Terns had arrived back.  The colony is clearly fenced off and with wardens watching over it during the breeding season.

I did see at least three Little Terns perched on buoys just offshore in the Fleet.  Other birds present was a group of Bar-tailed Godwits asleep on the Fleet side of Chesil Beach.  A couple of Wheatears put in an appearance.  Other than that it was just a fly over Curlew.

Little Terns - at least three were present.  The RH bird appeared to bring
food in for the LH bird.

Bar-tailed Godwits - About 15 on Chesil Beach

Wheatear - At least two on this small part of Chesil Beach.

Portland Bill

 A walk around the migrant hotspot of Reap Lane and Barleycrates Lane produced very little apart from hundreds of House Sparrows and a single Stonechat.  There were however a steady flow of Swallows over, all heading north.

Stonechat - One of the more interesting birds of the first bit of my walk.

I then decided to drive the short distance to Portland Bill.  I didn't expect to see much on the sea (given the recent wind conditions) apart for the local breeding birds but I was still hoping for one or two grounded passerine migrants.  I did manage to find two Wheatears but they were within the MOD fenced off area so photography was a waste of time.

On the very end of the Bill I did manage to find a group of five Purple Sandpipers, so I spent a few minutes photographing those, after a clamber over a slope of boulders.  

Purple Sandpiper - One of the five present.

Searching for food on what seemed like bare rock!

Purple Sandpipers - My camera, a Sony RX10 is pretty good at flight shots
and I managed to grab on half decent image when they flew a short distance.

A short video clip of Purple Sandpipers

Turnstone - searching in the weeds for some food.

Common Tern - This bird did not look to be in great shape and may have had blood
on the side of it's head.  It seemed reluctant to move.

Razorbills - This part of the Auk colony is easily viewed from the Bill. 
These were Razorbills with the Guillemots presumably breeding around the headland.

More Waders at Lodmoor

 I walked around the circuit at Lodmoor RSPB Reserve in a light rain and dull conditions.  The Wood Sandpiper was still present but easily missed.  Two Greenshank were new in, as was a Whimbrel.  Bar and Black-tailed Godwits were again present but possibly different birds as the wind had completely dropped.  Perhaps 200 Swallows, House and Sand Martins plus Reed and Sedge Warblers mainly on the east side.

Bar-tailed Godwits with a possible Black-tailed back left
and a Little Egret flying over.

Whimbrel - No doubt a different bird to those seen two days ago. 
This one appeared to have a drooping wing.

Greenshank - Two were present but the other was rather distant.

Portland Bill Raven and Rock Pipit

 Not too many scarce birds to be found on a short family visit to Portland Bill.  A couple of Purple Sandpipers flew by close in as did a Fulmar, but my camera was still in it's bag!

A very tame Raven by the car park.

Rock Pipit - Carrying food for young close to the end of the Bill

Grey Seal - Close to the end of the Bill

Weymouth Sandwich Terns

 After a couple of days of no Terns (a little unusual), three Sandwich Terns appeared in front of our holiday apartment in Weymouth Bay.

One of the three Sandwich Terns close inshore.

Lodmoor Waders

 An evening visit to Lodmoor RSPB on the first day of a week long holiday in Weymouth was quite productive for three species of migrating waders.

Bar-tailed Godwits - approaching full summer plumage.

Whimbrel - Three were present when I arrived but took off calling loudly and
flew north into a fairly stiff breeze.

Wood Sandpiper - Busy feeding.

Above is a short video of the three wader species at Lodmoor.

Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls - a few hundred were present
including a few Common Gulls.

Also seen on the reserve but not photographed were Redshanks, Oystercatchers, Little Egrets, and various Geese and Mute Swans.

Firecrest Surprise

 While carrying out my breeding bird survey at Burnham Beeches I came across a pair of Firecrests.  One of them decided to have an extended preen in view which I managed to video.  This species is no longer a rare bird in this part of the country and other birds have been located in the area.

Photographing the preening bird was not easy with rather poor light.

Firecrest preening.  Another can be heard singing.