January and a British Mega

As is usual for many birders the 1st of January is a day that is required for you to go birding regardless of the weather.  We started locally checking off a few species in and around the garden before moving round to Ridge Farm to take a look at the Russian White-fronted Geese, which went to plan but no Tundra Bean Geese.  It was then off to Brand's Bay and Studland South Beach which saw us checking off Great Northern Diver, White-tailed Eagle, Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes and Goldeneye a species that has become scarcer in recent years in the harbour.

Slavonian Grebe off Jerry's Point © Nick Hull

After Studland we headed to Norden and checked out the sewage works for Chiffs and Grey Wagtail and news came through that the Bean Geese had been found in the Frome Valley at Stokeford.  So we headed there first and as we passed by Worgret Manor we saw a handful of Cattle Egret feeding in the field next to the house.  When we arrived at Stokeford the Tundra Bean Geese were still present in the field behind the cottage feeding along with Egyptian Geese and a few more Cattle Egret.

Next we popped into Holme Bridge where we got lucky with a Great White Egret, Lapwing flock, Fieldfare and a pair of Little Grebe. We then headed for the home patch via East Holme gravel pit then onto Lytchett Bay.  Viewing from Turlin View Point added Avocets and other common winter waterfowl and Spoonbills which do not visit that often.  Then it was back home and have a coffee and add up our species list for the day.  The final count wasn't bad at 62 species a pretty good start for the year.

A walk around home at footpath 12 opposite on the 4th provided us with two really good species Green Woodpecker, rare here on the Lytchett patch, and Lesser Redpoll with the Siskin.  Later in the morning we followed up on some info that came our way about a flock of Golden Plover near Bere Regis but our hunt to find them proved fruitless, though by luck stopping in a farm gateway saw us add Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting in a flock of feeding Chaffinch.

On the 7th we had a trip down to Hatch Pond as at the north end by the footpath a Yellow-browed Warbler had been found.  We arrived and spent about 30 minutes before it showed up and performed for us and it gave us some real close views.  

Yellow-browed Warbler - Hatch Pond © Nick Hull

Our next outing was a quick visit down to Waddock Cross Cressbeds as the frosty cold weather had pushed the Glossy Ibis up the Frome Valley to find unfrozen area to feed and they reported using the watercress beds.  When we arrived we found them without any trouble as well as a number of Green Sandpiper. Then Jackie said shall we pop down to Weymouth for the Black Redstart at the Bridging Camp which turned out successful.

On the 21st news broke of a Killdeer at Ripley just over the border into Hampshire, a species that Jackie had always wanted to see in Britain but we couldn't go on the first day and had to wait until the next day.

We travelled to Ripley without too much traffic but had a little problem finding somewhere to park so Jackie didn't have to far to walk as she couldn't use her scooter.  It was a wet day but we were lucky as it cleared a little and we had a dry spell whilst we were there.  The Killdeer was on the far side of an old gravel pit resting when we arrived it was partially out of sight from where we were viewing but eventually it went for a little run and a feed.  Then a Sparrowhawk flew across the middle of the lake and the Killdeer took flight and gave us good flight view as it passed in front of us and turned and went back to nearly where it had taken off from.   Oddly the first British record of this species was from Christchurch Harbour when it was Hampshire in 1859 and since then there has been in the region of 78 accepted records.for Britain and Ireland.

Killdeer - Ripley Hants 

We ended the month with a visit to Slimbridge WWT with friends David and Fran.  Jackie and I haven't been for many years in fact our last visit was a twitch to see a Little Crake back in 2005.  We managed to add seven species to our year list with Barnacle Goose, Bewick's Swan, Common Crane, Golden Plover, Ruff, and Cetti's Warbler. We ended our visit with a Kingfisher whilst having breakfast next morning before we move on for a morning visit to the Somerset Levels on the way home to Dorset.

Flight of Bewick's Swan Slimbridge © Nick Hull

We had little success on the levels as water levels were high though we saw several Great White Egret and the two large flocks of Cattle Egret which collectively exceeded 150 birds. we ended the month on the 31st with a Mandarin drake in Poole Park a real tarts tick to end the month with 120 species.

Drake Mandarin - Poole Park © Nick Hull