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 small stake out on the Water Meadows once the rain had eased. A Green Sandpiper, Greylag Goose 2, Egyptian Goose, House Martin 2, Coot 2. ...
