14th March 2025

Not much new to report today. 

The Barnacle Goose (12) flock was still in the vicinity of the Causeway Pond. The Cattle Egret (7) flock did not arrive until the afternoon feeding on the field directly behind Athelhampton House (nr Athelhampton Lane).

13th March 2025

The water meadows held a good number of wildfowl including the Barnacle Goose (12) which remained late into the afternoon. A high count of Little Egret (39) on the meadows with additional birds at Athelhampton (2) total (41). A Sparrowhawk chased a Jack Snipe across the meadows with Snipe (3) dispersing as a result of the chase.

A female Mandarin was observed briefly on Causeway Pond. 

Raptors: Buzzard (8), Sparrowhawk (2), Kestrel (2),

A flock of Cattle Egret (7) were feeding moving W from the field at Athelhampton towards Athelhampton Lane as the afternoon progressed.

Cattle Egret

12th March 2025

 A day spent on the farm with plenty of gulls attracted by furtilizer being spread on the fields. The highlight was and adult Yellow Legged Gull which was digi-scoped with poor results. Other gull species breakdown as follows:-

Mediterranean (6), Common (11), Black headed (202), Herring (83), Lesser black Backed (2), 

The flock of Barnacle Goose (12) had increased in number by two spending the morning in the vicinity of Causeway pond.

A high count of Little Egret (30) was another product of the activity on the fields behind Mill Mead.

Barnacle Goose

10th March 2025

 A day that felt very Spring like. The birds were also very active with Cattle Egret 4 on Puddletown Water Meadows before they moved E to spend the afternoon on the meadows at Athelhampton.

The flock of Barnacle Goose 10 that have been in the Dorchester area for some weeks gave away their presence when the flock were spooked from the meadows by a low flying Red Kite.

Gull numbers were high on the farm with Med Gull 15 and Black Headed Gull c200 washed up on Mill Mead.

Athelhampton held a pair of Goosander and Green Sandpiper 2. The latter was flushed by a low flying female Sparrowehawk.

Barnacle Goose

Cattle Egret

Goosander pair

Red Kite

6th March 2025

The overnight fog lingered over the farm until at least 0930hrs this morning. Visibility was poor but I covered Athelhampton where the wildfowl were closest to the road. 

There was a small influx of Greylag Geese (17) across the farm. This species has been uncommon on the meadows this year. The fog may have had a say in their arrival. A pair of Egyptian Goose (2) were present at Mill Mead.

There were also a good number of Chiffchaff (11) hawking insects along the river and at Mill Mead.

Greylag Goose

25th February 2025

The warmer weather has seen an increase in raptor activity over the farm with Buzzard (8), Peregrine and Kestrel all taking advantage of mid afternoon thermals.

Wildfowl numbers are still high but there was a lack of Lapwing (13) on the meadows today. 

A small mixed flock of Yellowhammer (45) and Reed Bunting (10) were noted at Big and Little Straps.

Collared Dove (3) were noted today. The Waterbarn Cottages pair have not been seen so far this year therefore it was good to see birds on other parts of the farm.

The farm above the ridge was not covered.

Collared Dove

24th February 2025

The Woodlark was singing from the same area today with a Brambling digiscoped at the North end of Higher Eweleze late afternoon.

Water levels at Athelhampton were high with a Goosander taking advantage of this raised levels through the channels.

A female type Pintail was present at Mill Mead early morning.

Brambling

Goosander 

Shoveler pair