Location: Meet at Ferrybridge car park at SY 668,754. Ferrybridge is on the shingle 'join' between Portland Bill and Weymouth. In Weymouth follow signs for Portland and you will see Ferrybridge car park signed once you are out of Weymouth town. For the afternoon we shall meet at Radipole Lake car park and I will give you directions to the free car park. Radipole Lake car park is well sign posted in Weymouth. From here we can walk into Weymouth for lunch and then walk to Radipole Lake.
Date and time: 10am-4pm Sunday 18 February.
A visit to Portland Harbour for Divers and Grebes, then an afternoon walk at Radipole to try and see Bittern and Bearded Tit.
In the morning we will have a short walk around Portland Harbour where Divers and Grebes and sea duck such as Scoter and Red-brested Merganser winter. We will spend time scanning the harbour to see what is there and will try and walk round for closer views. This is the best place in Dorset and Hampshire for Great Northern Diver and Black-throated Diver and holds a good chance of Red-necked Grebe - species that are difficult to see elsewhere.
Due to landslips, one can no longer walk along the harbour edge near the Nothe, so we shall be walking at the western edge from Ferrybridge and may take a look at the harbour from the Portland Castle area. We shall be parking at Ferrybridge for the first few hours and then will drive into Weymouth.
We will have lunch in Weymouth somewhere, but you are welcome to bring a packed lunch and eat it on the seafront.
After lunch we will visit Radipole Lake. This RSPB nature reserve consists of lakes and reedbeds. Ducks such as Ruddy Duck, Pochard and Tufted Ducks are usually seen and sometimes the elusive Bittern can be seen from the hide - they regularly winter here. Bearded Tits sometimes fly around the reed beds and this is the best place I know to actually see Cetti's Warblers. The small lake outside the visitor centre is well known for producing scarce gulls such as Mediterranean, Little, Glaucous or Iceland
Car parking in Ferrybridge is about £3 for 3 hours. At Radipole there is a small, free car park nearby that we shall try and use. From this car park we can walk into Weymouth for lunch.
There are toilets in Ferrybridge car park and at Radipole Lake visitors centre car park. Hot drinks and snacks are available in the Radipole Lakes visitor centre.
How to book: Please book in advance by contacting Project Fred on 01425 673321 or by emailing project.fred@virgin.net
Cost: £10 - in addition there is a charge of £1.50 for use of the hide at Radipole, applicable to non-members of RSPB.
Length of walk: Short, about 3km altogether.
What to bring: Waterproofs and binoculars if you have them.
Click here for other walks.
