We were staying in Weymouth for a week with my daughter Katherine and granddaughter Jess. It just so happened that a Red-spotted Bluethroat had been found a month earlier on 17th March at Swineham GPs near Wareham. The bird was refound on 8th April and seen daily since that time.
We went to see the bird on a Saturday afternoon. Apparently the narrow path on which the bird was feeding and in the morning the path was rammed with birders and photographers. However by the time we arrived there were just a few people watching it. We had to wait about 10 minutes before the bird dropped onto the path to feed on some mealworms. It came within about 10 feet of where we were.
The Red-throated sub-species breeds in Northern Europe. The bird was singing from time to time but unlikely to attract a mate!
Every so often the bird would stand still and peer up at the sky.
The bird can be seen a short distance down the path
A brief video clip of the Bluethroat
Osprey - After leaving the Osprey a quick scan of Poole Harbour produced this Osprey carrying food.
The news about this bird broke late on Thursday afternoon. That was fairly convenient as the following day was Good Friday and a lot of people managed to get over to College Lake to see this Bucks first!
The bird had been at the site for a couple of news but was initially reported as a hybrid. On closer examination it looked to be a genuine Lesser Scaup making it my 260th county tick!.
The drake Lesser Scaup was very interested in this female Tufted Duck and was seen copulating.
