Urban birding has become something of a habit lately, and we are fortunate in Dorset to have a number of good options in this regard. Last weekend saw me pottering around a few more of the county's birding hotspots between Portland and Dorchester. First stop was Fortuneswell and Chesil Cove at the southern end of Chesil Beach, where a pair of Black Redstarts were flitting on the rocks - same time, same place as a pair last year. A trio of Eider Duck were the highlight of a quick scan of Portland Harbour before lunch with the ducks and gulls at Radipole Lake in Weymouth. There was just time to twitch a first winter male Rose-Coloured Starling on the rooftops of suburban Dorchester before heading back to Purbeck to see about 10,000 of its more familiar cousin, the Common Starling, come in to a spectacular roost at Studland's South Haven.
 |
| Male Black Redstart, Chesil Cove |
 |
| Black Redstart, Chesil Cove |
 |
| Female Black Redstart, Chesil Cove |
 |
| Rock Pipit, Chesil Cove |
 |
| Meadow Pipit, Ferrybridge |
 |
| Eiders in Portland Harbour |
 |
| Bearded Tit, Radipole Lake |
 |
| Blackbird, Radipole Lake |
 |
| Carrion Crow, Chesil Cove |
 |
| Dunnock, Radipole Lake |
 |
| Shelduck, Radipole Lake |
 |
| Black-headed Gull, Radipole Lake |
 |
| Common Gull, Radipole Lake |
 |
| Mediterranean Gull, Radipole Lake |
 |
| Med Gull with Black-headed Gull above |
 |
| The drake Hooded Merganser still displaying at Radipole |
 |
| Always a show-off |
 |
| Male Marsh Harrier at Radipole |
 |
| Moorhen, Radipole Lake |
 |
| Feral Pigeon, Radiploe Lake |
 |
| Rose-coloured Starling, Dorchester |
 |
| Not looking so good after a bath |
 |
| Starling murmuration at Studland |
Amazing that the Radipole hoody is still there! Wonder how many still have it on their lists?
ReplyDeleteYes he's certainly growing old disgracefully, trying it on with the Tufties...
Delete