Lodmoor and Radipole RSPB

It was a bumper day down on the Dorset coast despite the change in weather.  It stayed dry despite the fog and drizzle en route.

The reserve at Lodmoor was teeming with birdlife.  Overwintering Lapwing were constantly made to swirl around the marsh with the constant harassment of the local Marsh Harrier.  Hundreds forced into murmurating with other overwintering waders such as Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin.  Good numbers of Common Snipe were feeding along the muddy fringes.

The Lesser Yellowlegs was still present but was frustratingly mobile only settling on the path-side pools for a few minutes before flying out-of-sight into the belly of the reserve.

A Sandwich Tern was a nice surprise as it rested on the islands, congregated amongst good numbers of Mediterranean Gull.

A total of four Spoonbill were seen around the reserve with three roosting together.

This drake Ring-necked Duck was feeding in the channel adjacent to Radipole Park Drive.  Quite surprised to have got this image considering I was peering through the reeds.

The walk round the reserve was largely uneventful.  At least three Marsh Harrier were quartering the extensive reed bed that was disappointingly devoid of Bearded Tit, and the Penduline Tit that had showed itself nicely in the sunshine on Friday.

Over in Portesham, around 20 minutes from Weymouth, a group of 28 Cattle Egret were feeding together in a rather uninspiring field.  This by far my largest group seen in the UK.