Portland and Lodmoor - 23rd September

A cloudy and windy day with some sun and rain. Highlights were Gannets, Rock Pipit, Bar-tailed Gdowits, Wheatears, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper and Snipe.

Today we started at Portland Bill to see what migrants were there, then went to Ferrybridge to see if there were any waders and finally had a walk around Lodmoor.
Around the Bill at Portland there was a fair amount of activity in that some Swallows and Meadow Pipits were going over and we saw a few head out to sea. There were also at least 8 Wheatear on the rocks and stones. We had a look at the sea and, as well as the usual Great Black-backed Gulls and Shags, there were quite a few Gannets passing by. Around the beach huts there were several Pied Wagtail, some Rock Pipit and a few more Wheatear. We walked to the observatory and up through Culverwell valley, but the only thing of any note was a Chiffchaff. As we walked back to the café a Sparrowhawk zoomed by. We were also surprised to see Wild Clary still flowering.
After lunch at the café we drove to Ferrybridge. There were quite a few waders here and another Wheatear. We saw Ringed Plover, a few Turnstone, a Bar-tailed Godwit and lots of Dunlin. Dennis and Lyz also spotted a couple of young Sandwich Tern sitting on the mud.
At Lodmoor we walked around the whole reserve. There were a lot of duck here. Teal and Mallard galore and several Gadwall and a flock of Wigeon. There were a couple of Tufted Duck on one lake and a few Pochard and Shoveler on others. The waders were more exciting. At the lookout shelter we saw several Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Ruff. At the next scrape were a few Dunlin, several Lapwing and 1 each of Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit. Near the end of the route we saw a Snipe, a Dunlin and a Curlew Sandpiper all together. Lastly we did hear a Bearded Tit calling briefly near the end of the walk, but didn’t see any.
Simon Curson