16 Sep 14 - At Last A Brands Bay Goodie

Brands Bay is the Southern most part of the Studland coastline on the inside of the harbour. It always looks fantastic, but sadly its track record for good Waders has been very poor. In about 7 years of regular watching, I'm yet to see a Yankie Wader there & the only rare Waterfowl I've seen have been a Black Brant & last Winter's Surf Scoter. But I persist as one day there will be something good there. The best bird I'm managed to find there was a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling about a 1/2 mile away at the back of the bay & edging onto the Greenlands Farm area. It stuck around for 2 days at the start of Oct 10 & was the first twitchable record for Poole Harbour & only the third sighting. I rarely carried the Lumix in those days, so no personal photos, but some nice shots on Nick Hopper on his blog.

Brands Bay: Panoramic view from the hide (21 April 14)

But I've seen a few other patch goodies over the last few years, with Barnacle Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Garganey, Honey Buzzard, Golden Pheasant (on Furzey Island, but viewable from BB), Jack Snipe, Black Guillemot & Barn Owl there. So I was really pleased to go into the hide recently to see the Great White Egret in the bay: my 150th species for Brands Bay. At first it was about half way back in the bay, before moving to within about 150 metres at its closest approach. Then it moved to the start of a channel to the left of the hide, before flying up there & out of view, about 5 minutes before local Poole Harbour lister, Shaun Robson, arrived. He had been away the previous week & so this was his first attempt to see it for the harbour list. We tried the side channel, but it was probably back on Littlesea & Shaun was out of time. Guess it will stick around for him.

Great White Egret: Even at the back of the near half of the bay, it was obvious what it was when compared to the Little Egret in the photo

Great White Egret: A large crop at the same distance

Great White Egret: It then walked down the channel & got a fair bit closer

Great White Egret: It then flew closer & came down in the near channel

Great White Egret: The buff edges to the secondary coverts and some of the secondary median coverts are obvious

Great White Egret: The pale fleshy-yellow above the knees is visible for the first time. Up to now the photos have really only shown the black legs & feet

Great White Egret: Just the hint of a black tip to the bill. Something else I've not seen up to this point

Great White Egret: Close up of the bill. I can now see why I hadn't seen the black tip in previous days

There is often a Black-tailed Godwit flock in Brands Bay, apart from after late May when the last stragglers depart for Iceland until their return in late August. The other time they are really difficult to see is at the start of the year, when the whole of the Poole Harbour flock departs for the Avon Valley, before returning after a couple of months. I'm sure they do this to make the traditional mid Jan Winter Bird Race harder for us.

Black-tailed Godwit

16 Sep 14 - Bicentennial Celebration

Back in mid May, the blog reached it's centennial post, which was a chance to look back on the first 7 months of blogging. The centennial post was split over 2 posts & was a chance to look back on the Non-Passerine & Passerine families photographed up to that point. It was great to have been able to reached that milestone and also look back on some of the great bird families I had photographed up to that date. Also it showed I was getting the enough photos and interest to keep the blog going. At the time, I was really pleased as I had just reached a total of 15,000 hits on the blog and a daily average of 150 hits a day. But I did have the advantage of some great trips over the Winter & Spring to India, Western Sahara & Morocco and Israel to provide plenty of material. I had also been to Croatia as well, but hadn't got around to putting those photos on the blog at that point.

Kingfisher: This was the first Bird photo on my first post (24 Oct 13)

Well 4 months on & I've just reached the bicentennial post. It's quite ironic that a few days ago, I was sitting in the hide at Middlebere & two of the species seen on the first morning with the camera appeared again & gave me the idea for this post. The first post all started with a Kingfisher & a Fox at Middlebere, but then went on to really challenge my fledgling photographic skills with a Pallid Swift at Stanpit. Sadly, there were no rare Swifts involved on this occasion. But at least there was a Kingfisher & it's the first I've seen at Middlebere since the first post & only my third for the site.

Kingfisher: The all black bill indicates this is a male (12 Sep 14)

Kingfisher: Back to the original wooden perch (12 Sep 14)

Kingfisher: You looking at me? (12 Sep 14)

There was also a showy Fox. This is a species I see erratically, but every few visits to Middlebere. They are generally on the approach track, but occasionally they appear in front of the hide. On the first occasion, the Fox came right up to the hide, but the individual was more wary on the recent sighting.

Fox: This was the original photo (24 Oct 13)

Fox: The recent sighting. At least it fits in the photo being further away (12 Sep 14)

So it's been a great last 100 posts. Recently I looked at the number of species of photos already on the blog & realised I have already photographed just over 5% of the Birds of the world. So just another 95% to go.

Reed Warbler: My first Reed Warbler for the blog. That's one less to the 100% target

With the Summer, there has been a lot of opportunity to blog more on other wildlife interests, other than Birds. Butterflies & Dragonflies have been a lot of fun over the Summer, with the undoubted high (& subsequent low) of finding the Map Butterflies. But it's also given me the chance to explore some of the other lesser known Insect groups that Birders rarely look at, including Grasshoppers & Bush Crickets and Shieldbugs. I look forward to more of these posts in the future, as I've really enjoyed looking at these groups and learning more about them. It's been really encouraging that people who know more about these groups are helping point out the occasional error, but good to know I'm getting nearly all the photos correctly identified.

Ruddy Darter: Dragonflies species are dropping off now, but there are still good numbers of some species. South Haven (10 Sep 14)

Another thing that has been encouraging over the last 4 months, the total number of hits has almost tripled to over 43,000 and the daily average is around the 300 hits a day. Another thing that has been fun, but I wish I had started this on day one on the blog is the flag counter. This counts countries, or to be more precise internet countries, of visitors. Thus Jersey, Guernsey & the Isle of Man all appear as flags. Big thanks to my friend Clare for reading the blog from Bhutan today & adding the 90th country since I discovered the flag counter: great timing Clare. Of these 90 countries, I've only managed to visit 38 so far. So it's interesting & really great to see how widely this blog is being read.

Flag Counter: Now up to 90 countries. Wonder if I missed any countries in the first 7 months

Certainly, the Butterflies & Dragonflies has helped to attract some additional followers. If so, I hope you enjoy the blog & will keep visiting it. There might not be so many shots of these over the coming Winter, but they will feature a lot from next Spring onwards & I've got plans for some Butterfly & Dragonfly posts to keep interest going over the next few months. Also, I've still got a couple of more Map posts to finalise, but Birding has kept me so busy, that I've not had the time to really sit down & write them yet. Hopefully I will publish these Map posts soon.

House Martin: The first post ended with a rare Swift. This commoner House Martin will have to do as a stand in. But it's another new species for the blog, just got this photographed as they start departing the UK

I am already looking forward to the next centennial milestone, I've got some exciting plans to keep the photos & ideas on the blog looking fresh, but you will have to wait till these plans develop. In the meantime, there is the important matter of the Autumn's Birding to attend to first. Let's hope there will be some good Birds for us all to enjoy. Finally, a big thank you to everybody who reads the blog. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have & you continue to follow it going forward & better still encourage your friends to have a look at it. Thank You.

14 Sep 14 - Revisiting The Aging Of The Studland Great White Egret

A few days ago, I posted a photo of the Poole Harbour Great White Egret at Littlesea, which has been hanging around the Studland area over the last week. This photo shows buff outer webs to the secondary coverts and buff tips to the secondary median coverts, which I've not seen in the field before. Additionally, I've not found any reference to this in the handbooks & field guides I've looked at. All the handbooks & field guides seemed to agree that Great White Egrets could only be aged on bare parts & the plumage was uniform white. All the photos I've looked on line, seem to show gleaming white wings.

Great White Egret: Littlesea, Studland (9 Sep 14)

Great White Egret: Note, the buff outer webs to the secondary coverts and tips to the secondary median coverts

As I was struggling to find any information about buff markings, I circulated the photos to a few friends for comment. The responses have been: Brett Spencer was on a bit of a learning curve, but guessed that it is a juvenile, as he thought there would be some moult visible, if it were an adult. Also, Brett expected there would be a difference in feather tip shape on the primaries, with juveniles perhaps showing a slightly pointier feather tip. Brett thinks he has seen similar brownish colouration on juvenile Little Egrets. James Lidster didn't remember seeing this in Great White Egrets before, but thought it occurred more frequently in Little Egrets. Martin Garner wasn't sure on this either, but felt it was probably a feature of fresh juveniles. Many thanks for Brett, James & Martin for allowing me to put them on the spot, responding quickly & having a go on this clearly difficult subject. 

Great White Egret: Note, the buff outer webs to the secondary coverts and tips to the secondary median coverts. Littlesea (9 Sept 14) 

Great White Egret: Blow up of the left wing. Littlesea (9 Sept 14)

I've spent a bit more time this afternoon, looking on line. I've not managed to find any other references to these buff wing edgings, but I did find a useful link on aging Great White Egrets in the US in late Summer from David Sibley. This web page is well worth a read. It confirms Brett's thoughts that juveniles would be expected to have really uniform coverts, primaries & secondaries as they are all fresh. It states that Great White Egrets do not moult their flight feathers, until they are one year old. So older birds would be going through their moult in late Summer & thus would have gaps in the flight feathers. 

Great White Egret: Whilst not close, it's closer than I've managed to get so far & the buff edgings are just about visible in the closed wing. Littlesea (14 Sept 14)

The best information that I've found on European Great White Egrets has been an online publication of the birds of Aragon, Spain by Javier Blasco-Zumeta & Gerd-Michael Heinze. Clicking on the Great White Egret link, will download an informative PDF file. This confirms the complete post breeding moult will be completed by November. Juveniles also go through a partial body feather moult which will also complete by November.

Great White Egret: Frustatingly, it flushed when I was walking back, was behind vegetation & going away from the bird at 150 metres. Whilst not sharp, it does show the uniform feathers on the left wing. Littlesea (14 Sept 14)

Bare part colouration will separate a breeding adult as that shows a black bill with contrasting blue-grey or lime-green lores, with black legs & feet & yellow on the tibia as far as the 'knees'. But outside of the breeding season, the bill reverts to the typical orange-yellow colouration. Keith Vinicombe's excellent Helm Guide to Bird Identification, states that juveniles are similar to adults with orange-yellow bills and black legs & feet with the extent of the yellow on the tibia varying between individuals. HBW and Herons Handbook by Handcock & Kushlan indicates that juveniles would have a black tip to the bill. The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe & the Western Palearctic states juveniles will have initially have a yellowish-grey bill. Therefore, the story doesn't appear to be consistent, but it looks like juveniles are likely to have a dark tip, but it suggests this will change to orange-yellow reasonably quickly, given some sources don't mention it.

On balance, I think that the uniform flight feathers indicate this must be a juvenile bird. Looks like the bare parts might not really help at this time of the year. So the obvious next question is whether the Studland bird is showing an unusual coverts patterning or is this something that has been overlooked in the past. This wouldn't be surprising, given Great White Egrets seem to be quite a shy, wary species & not a relatively confiding species like the local Little Egrets are. Despite several attempts I've not managed to get close to this bird yet.

Great White Egret: Whilst not sharp, it does show the uniform feathers, except for some wear to one primary feather in the right wing. Littlesea (14 Sept 14) 

I also posted an email on the Dorset email group about these markings and that's when this whole subject went in a different direction, to the one I was expected. I had an email from West Bexington stalwart, Mike Morse, of a Great White Egret that flew past West Bex on the 24 July this year. This shows the same buff edgings as the Studland.

Great White Egret: Many thanks to Mike Morse for allowing me to post a picture of the West Bexington bird. Copyright of this photo remains with Mike. (24 July 14)

Great White Egret: Cropped & sharpened left wing. Copyright of this photo remains with Mike Morse. (24 July 14). There appears to be some lack of uniformity on the primaries, but as this isn't shown on the right wing, I'm assuming this might be individual feather damage rather than moult (as I would expect evidence of moult to be seen on both wings)

Mike's photo is fascinating (do I really mean that White Herons are fascinating???). This shows the buff edgings continuing onto the primary coverts. But the buff markings, do not appear to be as bold as on the Studland bird. It also shows some lack of uniformity on the primaries, but only on the left wing. Therefore, it's not the same bird as the Studland bird, despite being assumed to be the same bird that was later seen in the Weymouth area (& thus apparently heading in the Poole Harbour direction).

I think both birds are probably juvenile birds, based on the overall conditions of the wing feathers. But this buff markings to the wing coverts in Great White Egrets doesn't appear to be something restricted to a lone individual. I would really appreciate any thoughts on these conclusions and feedback on other Great White Egrets which show buff markings to the wing coverts, as I'm sure there must be more to learn here.

13 Sep 14 - Some Nice Repeats

A call from local Birding mates, Mark & Mo Constantine, had me spending the afternoon trying to relocate a Melodious Warbler they had found at lunchtime at Greenlands Farm, on my Studland patch. Unfortunately, without any success. But the sun was out & there were some migrants around to keep me occupied & I was in the best corner of Greenlands Farm for migrants.

Spotted Flycatcher: Always happy to see these great looking Flycatchers

Spotted Flycatcher: It stuck to this perch where I had a narrow photographic gap in the bushes

Spotted Flycatcher: But eventually I moved around to get a better angle

At one point, I had another local Birding mate, Jol Mitchell, on the phone checking up on the news on the Melodious Warbler. Once updated, Jol went on to point out that the Hurricane features on the previous blog post, was actually a 'clipped' wingtip Spitfire. I thought that all the Spitfires had rounded wings. But apparently some models, like the latest addition to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire TE311, had a 'clipped' wingtip: giving them a squarer ended wing shape. Jol went on to say that his son Joe & himself had been over to Bournemouth airport, as the Lancaster bombers were using that as a base, following their return from the Channel islands. Coincidentally, at that point, I heard a deep throbbing plane engine, that sounded similar to the Lancasters as they went over Littlesea a few days ago. But I couldn't see much of the sky where I was standing & I knew I would lose the phone signal if I was to try to get to a clearer view. So I stayed put & didn't think too much more about it. But about any hour later as I was leaving Greenlands, I picked up a Lancaster Bomber in the distance over Poole. Hadn't appreciated one was planned to be in the area this afternoon. It circled the area once, then did a second closer pass over Greenlands Farm & Littlesea, before heading off in the direction of Bournemouth. As I hadn't planned to try & get to any of the events it was appearing at then I hadn't expected to see it again, so it was a real bonus to have a second private air display of the Canadian Lancaster over Studland. I haven't been able to figure out which plane or planes that I heard whilst speaking to Jol.

Canadian Lancaster: VRA showing the Victoria Cross markings below the cockpit

Canadian Lancaster: A real bonus seeing it again & it made up for the 3 hours spent looking for the Melodious Warbler

Canadian Lancaster: It will be over the Goodwood Revival Festival in Sussex on the 14 Sept so keep your eyes open in the South on that day

I finished the day with a short watch from the High hide at Littlesea, Studland, where I saw the Great White Egret again (but more on that in a future post), as well as, my first 2 Brent Geese flying South as they return for the Winter.

10 Sep 14 - Unexpected North American Migrant Kickstarts the 2014 Studland Vis Mig Season

There are several Visible Migration (Vis Mig) sites on my Studland patch and it will soon be the season for the peak Finch & Thrush movements again. My favourite Vis Mig site is South Haven, which is the Southern side of the Poole Harbour mouth.

Fellow Vis Mig Watcher Graham Armstrong: Looking South East at the South Haven Vis Mig watch point

Generally, Vis Mig migrants fly at low level & in the morning. They also fly into the wind & ideal conditions are light winds (Force 2 - 3) & dry conditions. For South Haven, we need to have a Northerly element with N or NE being the best, but NW is still fairly good. If the winds switch to the SW, then the Vig Mig migrants tend to cruise SW, but they end up passing on a much broader front & South Haven is pretty much a waste of time as the numbers are very low. 

Looking South West at the South Haven Vis Mig watch point: It's a narrow peninsula at this point

Looking North: This is the Sandbanks peninsula which is where they are heading on a Northerly wind, before turning East to follow the coast to Kent

You need a clear view of birds as they are coming as it's not long before they are overhead and going away is often harder to identify them. Often we heard them before seeing them, but with some only a few metres about the ground & others 20 or 30 metres high & taking different routes (along the beach, over the trees or over the sea on either side of us), it's not easy to know which way to look. It's made harder as often there are waves of several flocks moving close together: guess it makes it harder for a Raptor to take one of them. To make even harder, hearing a Goldfinch call in a flock of Finches, doesn't make them all Goldfinches, it could be a silent flock of another species like Siskins with one calling Goldfinch. So we try to eyeball as many of the individuals as possible to look for other species tagging along. Certainly, not an easy day's Birding, but can be great fun when you get big movements occurring. With the chance of an occasional goodie, or patch goodie, it is even more additive. Although I do wonder what we have missed each day, by not getting to walk around Old Harry or some of the other parts of the Studland patch.

Anyway, I've often wondered about trying the alternative viewpoint of the Littlesea High hide. This is about the highest point of Studland and has good views over Littlesea & the peninsula. The drawback it is is an exposed site & likely to be windy which will make Birds harder to heard calling. Also, I am not sure if they would be funneled overhead or will follow the coast or fly over the lake. But it is a migrant hot spot with the most recent record of Wryneck (surprisingly scarce at Studland probably due too too much potential habitat to disappear into). But whilst looking for the Great White Egret in recent days, I've heard Yellow Wagtails & in the past I've bumped into a few other common migrants which suggests I should pay the site more attention. Whilst looking for the Great White Egret with local Birder, Neil Gartshore, Neil said what's that coming? What ever it was it was out of view & behind the hide for me, so I moved right to get a view. Was expecting a Raptor, Wildfowl or Wader species and was shocked with what I saw: the only 2 Lancaster Bombers still flying. I've seen the UK based Lancaster on a number of occasions, from when I was a kid on the Kent - London borders. But at the moment, it has been joined in the UK, by the only other flying Lancaster, from Canada: which has been over for a number of big celebrations since mid August this year. I had thought of trying to get over to the recent Bournemouth airshow to see them both, but then the Canadian Lancaster had mechanical problems & had to pull out at the last minute. In the end, I settled for distance views of the Red Arrows from the Godlingston viewpoint. So it was a real thrill to get a private display, as both flew over the Littlesea hide, before turning over Ballard Down. Turns out they were heading out to the Channel Islands.

The UK Lancaster Bomber: This is part of the UK Battle of Britain Memorial flight, although the Lancasters didn't enter active service until Oct 1941

The UK Lancaster Bomber: The aircraft is marked up in the colours of Thumper of the famous 617 Dambuster squadron for the 2014 flying season. A full history of Thumper can be found on the RAF website

The Canadian Lancaster Bomber: It's a real treat to see this plane, as it is only over in the UK from Mid Aug to Mid Sept. More information about this Lancaster can be found on the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum website

The Canadian Lancaster Bomber: The Canadian Lancaster is marked up in the colours of Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski VC and is referred to as the “Mynarski Memorial Lancaster”, which flew with RCAF No. 419 (Moose) Squadron. Andrew Mynarski won the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth’s highest award for gallantry, on June 13, 1944, when his Lancaster was shot down in flames, by a German night fighter. As the bomber fell, he attempted to free the tail gunner trapped in the rear turret of the blazing and out of control aircraft. The tail gunner miraculously survived the crash and lived to tell the story, but sadly Andrew Mynarski died from his severe burns. The markings on the side are of his Victoria Cross

Giving tantalising views in the mist further South was a shadowing Fighter. Unfortunately, the photo was really suffering from the hazy conditions.

Spitfire TE311: I initially thought this was a Hurricane, but it has been re-identified as the 'clipped' wingtip Spitfire TE311 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Thanks to local Birding mate Jol Mitchell for the update on my fighter identification

Will we get anything better this Autumn at South Haven: sadly, I suspect not. But you never know with Birding, so I guess I will be out every time I can when the wind goes Northerly this Autumn.

9 Sep 14 - Heath Grasshopper

Whilst walking up to the High hide at Littlesea to look for the Great White Egret, I spotted a dark Grasshopper on the patch of recently burnt heath next to the track. It's my first Heath Grasshopper. Heath Grasshoppers are as their name suggests a Heathland specialist and they prefer small slopes. So looks like the area around the High hide is perfect. It is a nationally rare species which is only found in Dorset on the dry Heaths of the Poole Harbour basin & the Avon Heath & Parley Common Heaths & outside of Dorset in the New Forest.

Heath Grasshopper: Note, the dark wedge markings reach to the rear of the Pronotum

Heath Grasshopper: Close up of the Pronotum which is the plate behind the head with the creamy bracket markings. There is a faint line at right angles to the body on the Pronotum called the Sulcus. On Heath Grasshoppers, the length of the Pronotum in front of the Sulcus in greater or equal to the length behind it. Also note the straight & thin antennae

Identification of the Grasshoppers seems more complex that the Bush Crickets as many of the Grasshoppers have different colour forms. The main identification features for Heath Grasshoppers are: it is a medium sized Grasshopper with dark wedge markings that reach to the rear of the Pronotum (on Field Grasshoppers the dark wedge stops before the rear of the Pronotum). The length of the Pronotum in front of the Sulcus in greater or equal to the length behind it. Also note the straight & thin antennae (on Mottled Grasshoppers these would be slightly bent antennae & clubbed on males or thickened on females, whilst Rufous Grasshoppers have pale tipped clubbed antennae). Additionally, the wings do not extend beyond the knees of the hind legs (on Field Grasshopper they extend beyond the knees). Based on habitat, the most likely alternative species are Mottled & Field Grasshoppers.

Heath Grasshopper: Note, the wings do not extend beyond the knees of the hind legs

9 Sep 14 - Great White Egrets - Just Like London Buses

In my secondary school days, I often used to take the bus to school. I say bus, but it was actually 2 buses as I had to change half way there: even thought the total bus journey wasn't much more than a couple of miles. Whilst waiting at the half way point, there was another bus route which crossed mine. Whenever buses on that route came along, two always came along together & generally they had less passengers on them, than the bus I was waiting for. So the myth of wait ages for a bus & then they come together is one I know to be a fact. Two days ago, I found a Great White Egret at Middlebere in Poole Harbour. More than likely it was the bird, Graham Armstrong initially found on 15 Aug at South Haven, Studland. We failed to relocate that bird despite a lot of searching. But my Great White Egret was later seen flying several miles to Littlesea, the large lake at Studland: so I guess it's most likely to be the same individual. As Studland is my main patch, I was back out looking for it that evening, but no joy. The following morning, I was down there soon after dawn, but most of the roosting Little Egrets had already dispersed. But at this stage we are not sure if it is roosting with them or roosting separately. But I went back again mid afternoon and was really pleased to see it fly out of Littlesea after I had been watching for about 30 minutes. It landed briefly out of sight, then fly again about a minute later & head off to the hard-to-watch Eastern Lake. I rarely bother to visit this area as it's so difficult to cover properly. I've never found a viewpoint that allows me to see more than about half the lake. Also I usually end up spooking quite a few of the Duck in the Winter on there, as I end up having to get close to see those visible parts of the lake. So all things considered, it is rarely worth the long walk.

After a morning on Old Harry, with routine migrants, but a few more visible than recent visits, I decided to give Littlesea another shot. Arriving at the viewpoint by the High hide, I could see about a dozen Little Egrets roosting up, over a half a mile away. It's a long view, but it's the only place to see the Little Egrets roost site. A quick scan & it was London bus time: my third sighting of the Great White Egret in 3 days. Given I've only see one other in Poole Harbour and one more in 17 years of living in Dorset, I'm finally doing well with this difficult Dorset species. They rarely stick around in Poole Harbour for more than a few minutes & unlike the Little Egrets are shy & always quick to depart. First call was to Paul Morton, who runs the Birds of Poole Harbour website. Not everybody will know Paul, but many of you who don't will probably wish you did, as he is the guy who originally found the Short-toed Eagle, that went on to tour Southern England this Summer. Paul is Year Listing in Poole Harbour & been getting really frustrated he hasn't connected with a GWE this year: due to a lot of bad luck & just being tied up at the wrong moment (including the 3 hours it was at Middlebere). He left the office in Poole immediately, only to be hit with an hour plus delay on the ferry. Abandoning that, he switched for the long 45 minute route around the Harbour. He arrived just at the same time as fellow local birders, Nick & Jackie Hull. They were probably quietly cursing Paul, as literally as they were parking the car, the Great White Egret departed the roost: the Morton luck with GWEs continues.

Great White Egret: After an hour of watching it, when it didn't move more than a foot or two, It's just heard Paul was parking the car

Fortunately, it flew to part of Littlesea, to start feeding. Whilst not in sight, I at least knew where it had come down, but it was a nervous few minutes for Paul, before we got a clear view of that part of the lake & it was safely Year Ticked (for Paul) or Harbour Ticked for Nick & Jackie. Paul & I carried on to try & get some photos, as I know my mate & ex-Studland Birder, Steve Morrison, will be really keen to see lots of photos of this cracking Studland Egret on the joint patch. Steve did laugh when I dipped at Studland on the first evening, so we will just have to hope it doesn't hang around till November when Steve is due to return to Dorset.

Great White Egret: Note, the heavy bill, deep folded neck, broad long wings, black long legs & black bunched feet

Great White Egret: Blow up of the bill to inner wing, showing the buff edges to the secondary coverts and tips to the secondary median coverts

Great White Egret: A slightly better exposed photo showing the yellow-orange bill colour & the darker lores

Great White Egret: The camera wasn't set up for a flight shot on this occasion, so its over-exposed, but it does give a better idea of the bill colour

When I looked at the photos, it was yet another time I am really glad to have bought the camera. There are many times when I'm seeing a lot more on the birds & other wildlife that I'm photographing, than I generally would in the field. In this case, it's the buff outer webs to the secondary coverts and tips to the secondary median coverts. I've got through all the reference guides & handbooks I've got in the house & they basically say the same thing. Aging of GWEs is done on the bare part colouration out of the breeding season. I don't think I have seen any decent photos of GWEs, which are anything other than white enough to appear in a washing powder advert. I've checked online this evening & I am still struggling to find other photos of GWEs showing these buff feather edges. So I'm sure that these buff edgings mean we should be able to age this individual, but I just don't know what it means. Therefore, I circulated a couple of photos to a few friends for comment. I'll update this post with any responses that come back.

Paul has also put some video of the GWE on the Birds of Poole Harbour website & there are some more photos of the GWE when it was at Middlebere on my last post.