Lodmoor and Radipole 16th November

A sunny and mild day. Highlights were Red-throated Diver, Water Rail and seeing Cetti’s Warbler.

We firstly had a look at the sea after seeing Collared Dove and Robin in the open car park. There were many Black-headed Gulls on the sea and then Chris found something that wasn’t a Gull – a Red-throated Diver. It was quite a way out, but was seen by everyone. Back on the reserve there were many small birds such as Dunnock, Robin and Blackbird on the paths. The first patch of water had Coots, Shelduck, a Heron and a few Lapwing and Shoveler. We walked to the shelter overlooking the reserve, getting a fleeting glimpse of a Kingfisher on the way. From the shelter there were a few Black-tailed Godwit, a Dunlin, Teal, Moorhen, Little Egret and a Snipe. Tracy found a Kingfisher perched by a ditch which gave good views and a couple of Stonechats popped up onto the reeds. A Buzzard was perched on a far off post. We walked back to the start point and then up the west side of the reserve hoping to hear or see Bearded Tits. Sadly we just found some more Snipe, Teal and Canada Geese. On the walk back we did see some House Sparrows and Fieldfares in with Blackbirds and Song Thrushes along the hedgerow.
After lunch in Weymouth we went to Radipole Lakes. We walked straight up to the North Hide checking the edges of open ditches as Bitterns had been seen recently. The open water had Little Grebe, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Teal. From the hide it was very quiet. Many Teal and Mallard, a few Shoveler and Little Egret, a Snipe, a Fox and 2 Muntjac Deer that sat quietly in the long grass. We left the hide and walked slowly back. Some people saw a Cetti’s Warbler in the scrub as we wandered along. From the lookout along the Buddleja walk there were many gulls coming in to roost. A scan through them found that they were all Black-headed Gull and Herring Gull, but there were a few Mallard, Pochard and Shelduck on the water too. As we walked back we heard Cetti’s Warbler calling and, with a little pishing, managed to see it – in the end we saw a few of them. On the last ditch we cheked Gaye found a Water Rail feeding with Moorhens. We all got a good view of it in fading light.
Simon Curson