Both the 12th and 13th were characterised by grey skies and low cloud/fog. True the sun did come out on the afternoon of the 12th but only after I returned home. The very dry conditions continue, Dorset seems to have avoided the recent hose pipe bans but it will only be a matter of time before they are introduced.
On the 12th I visited Ower copse in Rempstone Forest and Sherford Bridge in the hope a Lesser Spotted woodpecker. Getting to see this declining species as opposed to merely hearing one has become a bit of a mission. Plenty of Treecreepers, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Siskins and even as few Redpoll were seen, but no LSW.
A misty morning in Rempstone Forest
Flooded woodland at Ower
A heavy dew on the cobwebs
Primroses enliven the woodland floor
I had seen Velvet Scoter in Devon earlier in the year but the views were distant, so I drove to Abbotsbury on the 13th as 2 – 3 had been reported there recently. The low cloud was so thick as I drove past hardy’s Monument that i could do little more than crawl along in second gear. Fortunately it was a bit clearer on the coast. On the Fleet only the usual diving ducks and grebes were seen.
Radipole North Hide failed to produce the couple of Glossy Ibis that have been in the area for several days now, the best bird was a Kingfisher by its nest hole. Perhaps I should have gone to Lodmoor where two Spoonbills and a Sand Martin had been seen but instead I called in at Kingston Maurward, just outside of Dorchester where a Cattle Egret was residing with the local cows. In spite of the poor visibility I got some mediocre record shots.
These sheep should have been enjoying a stunning panorama over the Chesil and on to Portland.....
When I dropped down to the Chesil the visibility was reasonable. The northern boundary of the Fleet is on the left and the sea on the right.
I had good views of the pair of Velvet Scoter offshore. Photo from the internet.
A distant Cattle Egret at Kingston Maurwood near Dorchester.
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