Birding Three Counties

Over the last 4 days we've been birding over parts of Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire and despite some gloomy weather we have had some great birds.

On Sunday, 29th May, we at last went to Portland to see the long-staying Great Spotted Cuckoo.  This bird arrived while we were on holiday in France and though we've been back a couple of weeks we never had the right opportunity to go.  We arrived at Reap Lane at 8.40a.m. and stood with a few other birders looking at bushes we were told it prefers.  Getting restless we decided to look a little further up the road when we met a local lady who said it will be in the bush we'd been looking at and it will appear at 9a.m.  Amazingly she was spot on and we had some good views, as it sat on the edge of the bush picking off large Brown-tail moth caterpillars for its breakfast.

Great Spotted Cuckoo © Nick Hull

On Bank Holiday Monday we decided it was a good day to look for Stone Curlew and to visit the RSPB reserve at Winterbourne Downs in Wiltshire.  The sightings board did have a sighting of a single Stone Curlew which had been seen that morning.  We realised that in fact the breeding Stone Curlews on this reserve were not open to the public, disappointing for us but good for the birds!

Nick had heard a Red-legged Partridge when we arrived but we couldn't find it but we did having Yellowhammers, Greenfinch and great views of Corn Buntings.  From the screen looking at a "Stone Curlew" patch we watched a pair of Lapwings and four Brown Hares.  We then stood fascinated by a pair of Chiffchaffs taking food into a patch of brambles and weeds where they obviously had a nest.  They seemed quite oblivious of us and were very busy.  A Garden Warbler started singing a superb songster and Swifts flew overhead.

Our next stop was to a site where we usually watch Stone Curlew in Wiltshire, this time we were not disappointed.  We had lots of Skylarks, Corn Buntings and we heard a singing Quail - of course we didn't get to see it.  We had Linnets and Swifts were overhead as we came to the site of the Stone Curlew and we picked it up straight away as it was standing out in the open.  Tearing ourselves away we drove on adding Pied Wagtail and Jay, Whitethroat and Meadow Pipit.  We had Stonechat and then we heard Whinchat singing, Nick found the male singing on top of a bush.   Moving on again we stopped to look over another area for Stone Curlew but our attention was soon taken by a beautiful male Montagu's Harrier.  What a brilliant day!

Yellowhammer © Nick Hull

Tuesday, we had our group out at Holt Heath near Wimborne, but it was windy and cool and this was not good for birding today.  In the car park we could hear Siskins overhead in the pines.  Walking through to the heathland we had Song Thrush and Blackbird and a Buzzard overhead.  We had several Chiffchaffs on our walk and four singing Blackcaps, but it was hard work today but then in a sheltered spot we found a few Linnets on the path, Stonechats including a male sat with a youngster.  Then Yellowhammer started singing and we found him sat up, a second male close by and then we heard a third nearby.  Despite the weather we did find a Holly Blue butterfly and a small stand of Heath Spotted Orchids.

Heath Spotted Orchid © Jackie Hull

Today, 1st June, though with the weather was not very summery and our Wednesday group was at Martin Down, Hampshire.  The sound of Skylarks accompanied us all the way round, also Yellowhammers were in good numbers.  Chiffchaff was singing in the parking area, we also had Common Whitethroat and three of us had views of a Lesser Whitethroat, though another one was singing later on our walk.  

We hadn't gone far when we heard our first of three singing Turtle Doves, we did get views of it sat out but then it had a display flight landing back to the same perch.  Further on I saw one sat out on a bare branch.  We had the usual Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wren, though a Mallard flying over was a bit more unusual.  

We came to an area with a few Fragrant and Common Spotted Orchids and here we started seeing Linnets and a few Swifts overhead.  A Green Woodpecker flew up and came superb views and it decided to briefly perch uncomfortably on a bush.  We heard Blackcap singing and a Lesser Whitethroat.  A few Stonechats and as we approached the car park I heard a Corn Bunting, we did locate it and then one sang from behind us and much closer, a good bird to finish our walk with.

Fragrant Orchid © Jackie Hull