The privations of island life

I've written before about how one of the more miserable aspects of life in Dorset is the thankless chore of visiting Brownsea Island at least once a year. After the endless, gut-churning 5 minute boat ride, comes the relentless slog across at least 100 yards of boardwalk to the nature reserve where you are forced to sit and wait in annoyingly well-appointed hides for literally seconds before seeing waders and breeding terns at point blank range. Honestly, I don't know why I bother, I should just go seawatching at Branksome or something for some proper close-up action. As if all the quality birds on the lagoon weren't enough, during this weekend's visit with the family an impudent Hobby almost took my head off in a low stoop after a dragonfly. The cheek! And as for those squirrels, well don't get me started...

Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwits

Common Tern in front of the houses on Brownsea Quay

Common Tern

Drake Gadwall on the lagoon

Hobby

Did a couple of passes and then it was gone

Stunning birds

Red Squirrel near the Church

Red Squirrel

Sandwich Tern

The colony is doing well thanks to netting erected to keep out Sika Deer

Yellow-legged Gull with chick

Common Heath

Shelduck