17th March 2019 - Weymouth and Blashford Lakes

An excellent day in Dorset & Hampshire with Max. A male Sika Deer grazing on the side of the A35 near Dorchester was a surprise especially as it was seemingly oblivious to the traffic hurtling past. Our first stop was Lodmoor where the Lesser Yellowlegs (still with white-headed Ruff in tow) was almost in exactly the same location as where I'd seen it back in mid-November although closer this time, just a few metres away. Also here were a young male Marsh Harrier, a flock of c50 Black-tailed Godwits, two Snipe, several Mediterranean gulls in various plumages (including a colour-ringed 2cy bird) and 2 Sand Martins. From Southdown Avenue, along the north side of the reserve, there was an adult winter Little Gull dip-feeding over the open water between the reedbeds but we couldn’t find the Ring-necked Duck nor the Penduline Tit along Beachdown Way where there were several Chiffchaffs. Completing the circuit of the reserve added an adult Spoonbill that was actively feeding in the deeper water and a brief view of a Cetti’s Warbler. 

Lesser Yellowlegs, RSPB Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset

Next stop was Radipole where it wasn’t too great a surprise to find the male Ring-necked Duck back on the lake opposite the tennis courts and looking a lot smarter than when I'd seen it back in early November while a circuit of the reedbeds from the Visitor Centre added another Marsh Harrier, a brief male Bearded Tit and two Brown Rats round one of the picnic tables. News that the Penduline Tit had reappeared at Lodmoor had us scurrying back there but predictably enough it had shown well and gone missing again. After a nail biting wait of about half an hour, during which we heard it calling several times, it finally cooperated and popped up on a bulrush head. Over the next 10 minutes or so we had good views as it moved from one bulrush to another before disappearing again.

Ring-necked Duck, RSPB Radipole Lake, Weymouth, Dorset

Penduline Tit, RSPB Lodmoor, Weymouth, Dorset

Knowing that there had been a Bittern at Blashford Lakes which had been showing exceptionally well at times, a stop there on the way home seemed like a good idea. Having parked the car, we quickly headed for Ivy Hide North where the Bittern was showing ridiculously well to the left of the hide to a small crowds of admirers. The views were quite exceptional, probably the best I’d ever had of this species, especially when it caught a small fish. The Woodland Hide was as busy as ever with a Great Spotted Woodpecker, single Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Nuthatch, and about 8 Reed Buntings coming to the feeders in the short time we were there. Ibsley Water was hard work in the wind with no Tern Hide to shelter in and check through the gulls so unfortunately the adult Ring-billed Gull eluded us. Round at Lapwing hide the light was against for scanning through the gulls but 19 Goosanders and 3 Goldeneye provided some interest as Brighton came back from the dead to draw level with Millwall in the FA cup. The drive back across the New Forest was an eventful one as we listened on the car radio to Brighton win a nail-biting penalty shoot out to progress to the semi-finals.

Bittern, Blashford Lakes HWT, Hampshire