Silverstone

Visit to family and also to see qualifying for British Touring Class Championship. But the first thing to catch my eye was  a flyover RED KITE. It was the only one on the way there and also three COMMON BUZZARD as well as three PIED WAGTAIL on grass near the track.

Ness Point and Home

An hour late morning with a male BLACK REDSTART waiting for me which means the pair are still about. Mind you not that close so only a record shot. Movement of CORMORANT heading South on high tide. They were in two flocks, one of 14 and the other 33. A RINGED PLOVER flew over and a TURNSTONE along the rocks. A seal put in an appearance with gulls overhead.

Home:  On arrival at home a SPARROWHAWK flew over my home.

Pathways, North Denes and Ness Point.

Pathways:  Caught site of two COMMON BUZZARD soaring well over the lake. Several young BLUE TIT and GREAT TIT. CHAFFINCH, BLACKCAP, But the best was a new dragonfly on site with a MIGRANT HAWKER male. Also WILLOW GREEN EMERALD DAMSELFLY and COMMON HAWKER. MALLARD, COOT, MOORHEN.

 
North Dene's:  WHINCHAT came in at 5 with one being an obvious young bird. MEADOW PIPIT saw 2 birds lift of and set off. LINNET 2, WHITETHROAT 2, GREENFINCH 1.

Ness Point:   First bird seen was a female BLACK REDSTART which came at sat near me. When I whistled it, it turned it's head on it's side and gave me a funny look. This is understandable? But I also picked up on a RED THROATED DIVER flying North and reasonably close. Close enough to see it had no darkness under the joint of the wing to the body. Flying well off and South 10 SANDWICH TERNS. The MED GULLS were sticking together at 7 and of all age groups.

Portland Bill Bird Observatory

 Spent five nights at Portland Bird Observatory and it was real first for me, sleeping in a light house with a room with a view. The view was truly amazing from my window, but any views on a bright day is a real treat. In the five days my list was 93 species which as can be seen brought in some really nice birds.

PBO:   Good watch point as well, it might not be that close to the sea but close enough for 140+ BALEARIC SHEARWATER. on Thursday morning, early. All birds flying East to West in either
 pairs, fours or eights.My best view was from the point with four birds at half a mile.

GREY WAGTAIL 5, WILLOW WARBLER, CHIFFCHAFF, WOOD WARBLER 1, YELLOW WAGTAIL. SPARROWHAWK, KESTREL. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER  3.

        WOOD WARBLER                                                         COMMON BLUE

                             

                                                        COMMON DARTER

               LINNET
Portland Point:   In respect of what I was able to pick up I only managed 18, but all my birds were from the Point and much closer. Three on one occasion were close enough for very good views. The best I have ever had. I also picked up on another 8 on Monday 10th very early at the point.
FULMER 22, GUILLEMOT 3, SHAG 40, MED GULL 1, ROCK PIPIT, MEADOW PIPIT, With largest flock of LINNET at 80 birds. WHEATEAR highest count 9. RAVEN 2, CHIFFCHAFF 4.

     

Quarry:  Best bird was a REDSTART here but also BLUE TIT, GREAT TIT, BLACKBIRD, STARLING, MEADOW PIPIT, LINNET, CHIFFCHAFF, WILLOW WARBLER and very territorial ROBIN. JACKDAW, CROW, KESTREL 4, WHITETHROAT.

              WILLOW WARBLER                                                                   ROBIN

CARRION CROW

Lodmore RSPB   Sep 6th   GREAT WHITE EGERET 1, GREEN WOODPECKER 1, HOBBY 1, MED GULL 50, WATER RAIL 2, WILLOW WARB 1, GREY HERON.

Arne RSPB:         Sep 7th   BUZZARD 2,  NUTHATCH 1, OSPREY 1, STONECHAT 4, WHINCHAT 2.

Lytchett  RSPB    Sep 8th   BUZZARD 2, CATTLE EGERET 2, GREAT WHITE EGERET 1, COMMON SAND 1, DUNLIN 8, GREEN SAND 2, GREENSHANK 2, HOBBY 2, HOUSE MARTIN 140, LITTLE EGERET 5, MARSH HARRIER 1 FEMALE, PIED WAGTAIL 40, PINTAIL 4, RUFF 2, SNIPE 5.
                                           CATTLE EGERET                       RUFF            

Return journey A3 and M25 RED KITE 3.

Pathways

This regular visit was made at the end of the day and produced SWALLOW, HOUSE MARTIN 3 CARRION CROW 3, MALLARD, COOT the first one for months. I also made contact with an adult KINGFISHER and a pair of MED GULLS which flew from Corton over the site heading West. The LITTLE GREBE seem to be struggling in feeding there young, as there are only two young left. The following are also of interest to the site.

                                   Common Darter                                              Green Clearwing

                      Hornet Wasp                                    Little Greb and a smaller grebe

                                                       Only the second coot on site all year.

Walberswick and Home:

Home saw the first SPARROW HAWK flyover today. Taking it's usual flight path from other years. Also close feeding pair of GOLDFINCH and my little female HOUSE SPARROW who comes into the garden to be fed meal worms.

Walberswick: First time out for Mary in 9 weeks so we had a picnic at our favourite spot on Lodge Lane. The best bird as such was a well of juvenile WOODLARK and a COMMON WHITETHROAT in a alder stuck in the middle of a gorse area. SWALLOW and SAND MARTIN as well as HOUSE MARTIN. A few PHEASANT and a pair of GREEN WOODPECKER. As for raptors the only one was a MARSH HARRIER.

My house sparrow.

Pathways

WEBS count today at Pathways and Gunton Hall, no surprises but good records in respect of KINGFISHER with at least one young bird calling. But could well be more. LITTLE GREBE still feeding at least 4 young at the moment. They must have lost several young but are still trying hard as there are only two birds from the first brood. I also had a single SWIFT fly over rather good as there are very few about now. A single GREY HERON was flying about and liking the dead tree.