The Ruff were not present on Charminster meadows this morning therefore a check of the water meadows am and pm just in case they had dropped in with visiting Lapwing.
The Barnacle Geese 7 were back on the water meadows. The Canada Geese (154) and Greylag Geese (2), were spread across the fields to Athelhampton. A good number of Common Gull (21) were washing up on the pools on the meadows.
Goosander (3) were also using the River Piddle to navigate along.
The day was spent checking the area for the now departed Whooper Swan from Silverlake (Warmwell Gravel Pits) which is 4-5 miles south of the farm.
The increase in surface area of water has seen a dispersal of wildfowl across the farm.
Athelhampton held the majority of the Canada Geese along with Barnacle Goose 6 and a Green Sandpiper.
A Goosander was noted on Mill Mead.
Cattle Egret 3 were noted with cattle opposite Home Farmhouse.
Lapwing numbers reached 140 at Mill Mead.
A late afternoon visit located a Cattle Egret in a Little Egret flock with cattle at Cattlecrush. Barnacle Goose 7 on Mill Mead. The Canada Goose and Greylag 7 were at Athelhampton this afternoon.
Puddletown Water Meadows Today's counts on the meadows Geese; Barnacle 8, Egyptian 2, Greylag 2, Canada 129: Jack Snipe 2, Snipe 29, Shoveler 4, Wigeon 85, Teal 15,
A Cattle Egret was noted in a field at Waterbarn Cottages feeding around the cattle troughs, Finch numbers are growing at Big and Little Straps including Reed Bunting 17, Yellowhammer 35, Linnet 90, Goldfinch 19, Stonechat, Kestrel 2,
The day began with snow settled on the ground and blizzard like conditions across the water meadows.
The day brightened up for the afternoon with bright sunshine winning through. A had prolonged scope views of a Brambling in an Oak tree at Big Straps. The field was alive with finches!
Snipe 7 Canada Geese c180, Brambling, Chaffinch 60, Linnet 55, Yellowhammer 25, Goldfinch 8, House Sparrow 35
There was a gradual build up of Black Tailed Godwits on Mill Mead this morning. Two birds were initially noted with a third bird joining them mid morning. At 1215 a flock of 5 birds flew in low from the east. The Buzzard (3) that were in the area all morning regularly put the wildfowl skywards. The Black Tailed Godwit 9 joined the Lapwing 85,
Other counts on the water meadows;- Snipe 8, Wigeon 137, Teal 21, Geese; Canada 209, Greylag 2, Common Gull 64,
WeBS Count totals:-
Site totals:- Goosander (2), Canada Goose (142), Mute
Swan (16), Wigeon (83), Teal (22), Shoveler (1), Mallard (19), Snipe (9), Green Sandpiper (1), Lapwing (152), Moorhen (8), Little
Grebe (3), Common Gull (1), Herring Gull (47), Grey Heron (6), Little Egret
(8), Buzzard (6), Kestrel (1), Sparrowhawk (1)
Site totals:- Yellowhammer (24), Reed Bunting (14), Linnet
(93), Chaffinch (111),Goldfinch (9), Bullfinch (2), Robin (7), Stonechat (2), House
Sparrow (39), Blackbird (20), Redwing (17), Fieldfare (6), Song Thrush (2), Skylark
(2),
A day of rare birds visiting the Farm. The bird of the day was a male Hen Harrier which spent some time hunting over Little Straps before flying S over the A35. This species was last recorded on the farm in the 1990's.
Earlier a Great Egret was seen flying from the meadows NW. This was the third record for the farm.
The Tufted Duck 1w female was on the Causeway pond along with a Coot a species which is rare on the farm.
Today's other counts on the farm, Green Sandpiper 4, Snipe 8, Canada Geese 100, Shoveler 1m, Wigeon 50, Teal 24, Lapwing 115, Raven,
Today's counts on the farm, Geese; Greylag 16, Canada 149, Shoveler 1m, Wigeon 59, Lapwing 55, Raven 2, Redwing 13, Reed Bunting 13, Yellowhammer 16, Chaffinch 64, Stonechat 2; Wood Pigeon 687 & Stock Dove 51 (fields)
Today's counts on the flooded meadows;- Geese: Greylag 15 Canada 133; Lapwing 74, Shoveler 1m, Wigeon 73, Teal 12, Gulls: Common 16, Herring 36, Black Headed 30,
A full day spent on the farm. Sightings of the day were a Merlin that flew E through Tractor House field at 1620. Barn Owl 2 were noted at dusk during the walk back to my car.
Chaffinch (135), Yellowhammer (13), Linnet (35), Reed Bunting (15) numbers are increasing with the feeding stations now open.
Goldfinch (13) Siskin (12) feeding in the Alders at Athelhampton.
Visits to the flooded meadows produced the following counts:-
Wigeon (44) (Mill mead), Teal (6) and Green Sandpiper (2) (Athelhampton), Mute Swan (16),
Redwing (6) and Meadow Pipit are present on the meadows.
Today's counts on the flooded meadows: Tufted Duck 1wF still on Causeway pond.
Greylag Goose 11 Canada Goose 53; Wigeon 26, Teal 3, Lapwing 13, Peregrine, Brambling (Little Straps near Waterbarn Cottages)
Very overcast and murky conditions this morning. The Tufted Duck 1wF was still on Causeway pond. Mill Mead held Little Egret 11, Greylag Goose 27, Canada Goose 51, Gadwall 2m, Wigeon 26, Teal 12, Mallard 32, Lapwing 14, Wood Pigeon 181 generally moving South.
The finches were feeding on the mixed seed crop at Little Straps, Chaffinch 52, House Sparrow 81, Yellowhammer 5, Reed Bunting. A Merlin scattered the feeding flock flying low south over the field at 1013hrs.
