Middlebere - Osprey and migrants

Our monthly Wednesday group met at Middlebere this morning, starting our walk we could see that Swallows were steadily streaming over with a few House Martins with them.  A number of Stonechats, adults with juveniles were on the heathland along with a few Meadow Pipits.

Down the track we had a Chiffchaff singing but we had several along our way,  a Jay called and then we spotted it flying across the track.  Reaching the Rowan trees we found Goldfinch but Chris was the only one to see the male Redstart, it disappeared and not seen again.  A couple of Whitethroats sat on top of a bush, a further one was on the wire fencing at the farm, along with a female Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher and Chiffchaff.   There were a good number of Mistle Thrushes enjoying the rowan berries, with at least twenty enjoying this feast.  Our first raptor was seen here with a Peregrine flying over us.

Arriving at the hide before we had settled down I noticed the Shelduck flying, then the Teal sprung up and I soon spied the Osprey that had spooked them.  It flew down channel, which was at low tide and out into the harbour.  The duck soon came back together with a couple of Grey Heron, Little Egret and a single Curlew.   It wasn't long before a raptor was brought to my attention at the far end of the channel surrounded by gulls.  Looking through a telescope my suspicions were confirmed that it was an Osprey.

Out of the hide Joe saw another more distant bird of prey, thankfully it was coming towards us and we were able to see it was possibly another Osprey, this time with a fish in its talons.  It flew for what seemed ages and descending all the time but we eventually lost it to view as it went past the

hide.

Overlooking the Wytch channel we added Greenshank and a beautiful male Kestrel, our fourth raptor of the day, a Buzzard appeared over towards Corfe Castle.  A pair of Coal Tits were in the conifers and a Green Woodpecker gave its lovely 'yaffle' call.

The sunshine brought out the butterflies and we had plenty of Red Admirals, Small Heath, a couple of Grayling and even a lovely male Common Blue.

Small Heath