Banded Demoiselle

A family camping trip in the New Forest didn't provide much time for birdwatching but a short walk near the campsite produced Raven, Buzzard, Common Tern and several of these Banded Demoiselle on riverside vegetation.

Can't beat the reeling...

The Savi's Warbler at Lodmoor showed distantly on my first visit but news that it was singing from more visible spots encouraged me to return to Weymouth before work this morning. The bird reeled almost constantly between 0730 and 0815, dropping down occasionally. The opening stanza of song - compared to a stuttering motorbike - could be heard clearly. Forced to digiscope, so not great pictures, but my first of this species at least. Bearded Tit and Cetti's Warbler were also very vocal, though less visible.

Elsewhere on Brownsea

Walking around the rest of the Dorset Wildlife Trust on Brownsea today, there was plenty of evidence of breeding activity. Canada Geese had goslings on the lawn by the church, and a brood of juvenile Long-tailed Tit (top picture) were causing a commotion near the villa. This male Reed Bunting posed briefly in front of the reedbed hide. Although conditions were slightly blustery, surprisingly few birders, or visitors of any kind, were on the island today for the time of year.

Photographing Terns

Visiting photographers to Brownsea have apparently been complaining about the chicken wire erected around one of the tern islands to protect nesting birds from trampling deer and predators. An absurd complaint, particularly as if not protected, there won't be many birds to photograph. My pictures may not be the best, but they hopefully show that there are still plenty of photographic opportunities to be had. The netting seemed to be doing its job as well, as most of the 108 Sandwich Terns counted were on the island surrounded by it. Hatching of the eggs was apparently imminent but I was unable to see any chicks today.

Brownsea lagoon

A brief Roseate Tern was the highlight of a trip to Brownsea (three more were present the following day). I also counted 108 Sandwich and 122 Common Tern though the number of breeding birds surely exceeds this. A single Med Gull (pictured) was an unwelcome visitor to the tern islands. Waders were represented by a summer plumaged Grey Plover, a flock of 20 Dunlin and a single Knot. The Dunlin gave a fly past (lower picture) but despite coming close to the hides were too nervous to settle - unfortunate as most were in summer plumage.

LRP at Longham

An early visit to Longham Lakes was rewarded with a Little Ringed Plover (pictured), plus singing Cuckoo, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Sedge, Reed and Garden Warblers. Clouds of Swift were swarming over the eastern lake - my count of 200 birds was almost certainly an under-estimate.

Moth breakfast

A team-away day provided the opportunity to use the skills of County Ecologist and moth expert Phil Sterling to bring the joy of moths to an unsuspecting group of colleagues. Phil was dispatched to Monkton Wyld last night to set up the moth trap, an effort which was this morning rewarded by three Poplar Hawkmoth, two Buff Tip, a Beautiful Golden Y, Pale Tussock, White Ermine, Buff Ermine and many other commoner species. The Poplar Hawk (top), Buff Tip (middle) and Beautiful Golden Y (bottom) are pictured here. Some amazing creatures, enjoyed by all.