Not exactly 'night' heron

My third attempt to photograph the Bournemouth Night Heron today paid off as it walked into the sunshine at about 10:00 after spending a couple of hours in the shade. I first saw it in near darkness on Tuesday and it was roosting in trees on the far bank of the Stour yesterday, so I was hoping it would come out in the sun today on its favoured island. The bird's finder was also present and after a long wait we decided to walk away and come back 5 minutes later to see if it could be persuaded out of the shadows. This seemed to work and the bird showed very well, but never entirely unobscured, to a small crowd. A pair of Egyptian Geese also gave a flyover (middle picture), a site tick, I'm told, for the Stour Local Nature Reserve. Kingfisher (bottom picture) were also constantly moving up and down the river.

Skylarks and Sedgies

After success with the Night Heron last night I had another look this morning en route to Hengistbury Head, but the bird was a fair bit further away, roosting in a tree on the far bank of the Stour. Still a good view though as it nodded off in the branches. Like every other day this week, Hengistbury was fine and bright, and a Skylark on the golf course allowed an unusually close approach. Heading for Wick, a newly arrived Sedge Warbler was extremely vocal - and visible. Other migrants were few in number thought Whitethroats were ubiquitous and a single male Whichat was my first of the year.

Hengistbury highlights

A few more images from early morning visits to Hengistbury Head this week. From top: Dartford Warbler, Stonechat, Whitethroat, Blackcap.

Night Vision

I contrived a family trip to the beach at West Bexington earlier today in the hope of seeing the Night Heron present for a couple of days. There was no sign so we returned home for an easter egg hunt and some garage clearance. As the light faded news came through of another on the outskirts of Bournemouth, so after a 20 minute drive and a brisk 10 minute walk I was adding another good bird to my Dorset list for the 4th time this month. An excellent record in Dorset's amazing run of spring rarities. Also had a picture published in Birdwatch magazine today (the Durlston Bluetail) which made up for driving over my favourite sunglasses while parking the car!

Hengistbury Head

A glorious morning on Hengistbury Head with plently of birds to photograph: from top, Wheatear, Sand Martin, Whitethroat, Stonechat.

Get the bunting out...

The third good bird in as many days was at Longham Lakes today in the form of a male Ortolan Bunting. Feeding in thick vegetation alongside the path it was close but difficult to see well except when it hopped up to pick one of the many thousands of horseflies in the area off a leaf or poked it's head up to scan around, as for this shot.

Little beauty

A 1st winter Little Gull at Longham Lakes was the second good bird seen on a short visit on the way home tonight (see earlier post). It was also my first of the year and, on checking my records, the first I have seen in 3 years of living in Dorset. Dwarfed by nearby Black-headed Gulls, it gave a brief fly-around before settling back on the water.