11 Oct 14 - An Approachable Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warblers are a fairly widespread species across the heaths which surround Poole Harbour. As a UK species they were nearly wiped out by the 1962 - 63 severely cold Winter. Only 4 pairs were left in Dorset in the following breeding season, according to the excellent The Birds of Dorset by George Green. Fortunately, by 1998, the Dorset population had recovered to 400 pairs. Despite being a common species locally, it's uncommon to see a good, close view. Most views are of them diving into Gorse or Heather. It's not a species that I have tried to follow before to get a good set of photos, as it's a fairly common local species. I usually bump into them while looking for migrant species & I don't want to be distracted by the Dartfords. Additionally, it is a Schedule 1 species & it's an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb them, on or near an active nest during the breeding season. While I obviously would never want to disturb them in the breeding season, I am also reluctant to photograph individuals seen by during the breeding season, to avoid any misunderstandings of the circumstances the photos were taken in. Sadly, this doesn't appear to stop the odd irresponsible photographers from using tapes & hanging around nests to try to get the perfect photo. My strategy for photos has been more of a waiting game. Seeing them regularly around Studland I figured one of these days, I would bump into one without having to make any effort. Today was the day when this wait & see strategy paid off, when this Dartford Warbler just seemed to want to sit around & enjoy the late afternoon sun.

Dartford Warbler: According to my old Svensson ringing manual, ageing Dartford Warblers isn't possible so this looks like it will remain as a non adult male (feel free to leave a comment to help me on this one if you know better)

I was surprised when it allowed me to get closer & even more surprised when the dog walkers who were starting to come along the path, ended up taking a different track & the dog followed them: that doesn't happen often when they see me photographing something.

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler

It finally flew across to some nearby Gorse, but even then was still on view.

Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler: A typical posture, before it finally flew into the Gorse

11 July 14 - Local Woodlarks

Having lived in the Purbeck area for 17 years, I sometime forget how lucky I am to live in an area with such a good range of Birds & other wildlife. The day has been spent showing my mate from Cornwall, Brian Field, a selection of the good local Birds, Dragonflies & Butterflies. Earlier in the day, we had seen 12 species of Dragonflies at Arne, some good Butterflies and one of the continental Swallowtails at St Aldhelms. Running through a list of Birds that aren't common in Cornwall, Dartford Warbler & Woodlark went to the top of the list. There are a few sites for Dartford Warblers in Cornwall, but Woodlarks are much harder to see there. There are a number of good sites locally in Poole Harbour for Dartford Warblers and a few sites for Woodlarks. My easiest Dartford Warbler site is next to a local road, so we headed there. A quick scan & I could see some Stonechats about 100 metres from the car. Chances are the Dartford Warblers would be nearby. As we walked towards the Stonechats, a couple of Woodlarks flew up & crossed the road. Great start, but we wanted to see them well & get some photos. After a few minutes of looking, a Dartford Warbler was seen quietly feeding. As we headed back to the car, a male popped up, sang briefly, before disappearing across the road into a bigger stand of gorge. No photos on this occasion, as I left the camera in the car.

Dartford Warbler: Taken in Rempstone Forest (Nov 13)

Stonechat: Juvenile. Taken at Greenlands Farm (June 14)

I planned to drive the car a few hundred metres, to a more open area to look for the Woodlarks. Before I got there, I managed to flush a family party of seven from the roadside edge, which flew a short distance before landing again. They breed on the local heaths, but quite like to feed on these nearby short grassy areas.

Woodlark

Woodlark: Despite the short grass, they were really good at disappearing from view at a distance

Mistle Thrush: Another common resident

Mistle Thrush

Gatekeeper: A final Butterfly to finish a good, but long day in the field

8 Nov 13 - Mystery Bird Photo

For a bit of fun, here is a photo of the best bird that I saw today, ignoring any species I've seen earlier this week. No prizes for identifying it (as I've given the answer further down this post). Photographed living wild in a wood within Poole Harbour.

Mystery Photo (answers below)

But first back to earlier in the morning. Joined Marcus Lawson at Brands Bay to see the Surf Scoter again, but it was distant. Rain soon set in and Marcus & I just made it to the hide, before it got seriously heavy. Eventually, braved the rain as the Surf Scoter got closer, but wasn't able to improve on the photos on yesterday's blog.

Moving on to the nearby Middle Beach car park on the seaward side of Studland, just as the rain finally stopped. Cracking views of Old Harry at the North Eastern end of the Ballard Down. Old Harry is a full height chalk rock stack, but is hidden behind the left hand grass topped stack. The small chalk rock stack at the far left hand side of the photo is Old Harry's Wife. This is a view I never tire of seeing.

Old Harry Rocks: from Middle Beach, Studland

 

Old Harry Rocks: A close up of Old Harry's Wife

Old Harry Rocks: from Peveril Point, Swanage (taken in Aug 2011)

Old Harry Rocks: A close up of Old Harry

The area of Studland Bay from Knoll Beach South to Old Harry Rocks is the best wintering ground for Black-necked Grebes in the UK. No pictures today as they weren't close in, but numbers starting to build up with 17 on view along with 4 Common Scoter. My peak count has been 75 birds in Jan 2011, but a few days later Steve Morrison counted a stunning 80 birds at the evening roost.

Walked around Middle Beach, South Beach wood & the start of Ballard Down hoping to find a goodie such as a Yellow-browed or Pallas's Warbler. These Eastern birds are just about annual or very rare at Studland respectively, with the best chances of finding one by checking all the birds hanging around in the local Tit flocks. No joy, but several Goldcrests in each flock, including this hyperactive bird.

Goldcrest

Goldcrest: They frequently hover to pick small insects off leaves

Having failed to find anything more unusual than a Firecrest (& that's fairly expected at this time of the year) & carried on to explore some private woodlands within Poole Harbour. So back to the mystery photo. It's a male Reeves's Pheasant.

Male Reeves's Pheasant: sulking under a dense conifer wood. The wings look much too big for the body

The BOU (British Ornithological Union) which maintains the official British List places Reeves's Pheasant in Cat E* (covering species recorded as introductions or escapees from captivity and whose breeding populations are thought not to be self-sustaining, with the * confirming they have bred in the wild in Britain). Therefore, sadly I can't tick it (as the only categories that can be ticked are Cat A (fully wild) or C (viable, self sustaining populations). I'm not old enough to be tick anything in Cat B (last wild record was pre 1958).

Reeves's Pheasant originate from East & Central China & it's a bird I've yet to see tickably in the world. Although I've made a couple of trips to China & Tibet, it hasn't been a bird I had a realistic chance of seeing on those trips. But will be a good excuse to return.

 Reeves's Pheasant: Stretching its wing

Reeves's Pheasant: After a long wait, it finally emerged from the dark conifer wood

Reeves's Pheasant: The tail is much longer than the body. The body is about 50 cm, but the longest tail feathers can be as long as 160 cm

Reeves's Pheasant: Check out the spurs on the legs

I've no idea of the history of these birds. I would be really interested to hear any details of when & how they were introduced locally, how many there are, are they still being introduced & whether they are breeding in the wild. But there are both males and females locally, they are shy, wary birds. The local population is probably larger than of Lady Amhurst Pheasants in the UK, which are still on the BOU Cat C List (i.e. tickable introduced species). This is a species I run into on only a handful of occasions in any year & I always enjoy seeing them.

 Anyway, I've heard that people can make good money leading tours to private locations to see Lady A's in the UK, so will be happy to quote for private tours to see these cracking birds. I will even throw in a certificate on seeing one, giving my permission to allow you to tick it on your British List. Happy to give a discount to any members of the IQ40 club who have an up to date membership when they book on a tour.

Finished the afternoon off with a couple of heathland favourites.

Stonechat

Dartford Warbler