Dorset Bird Tours

There are 2 distinct flocks that have been here for a few months. Numbers have also grown in that time!

Bardolf Farm - A misty day on the farm; Cattle Egret 11, Corn Bunting 149, Geese; Egyptian 3, Greylag 4, Canada 33; Snipe 6, Gulls; Great Black Backed 2, Lesser Black Backed 3, 🦉🌍🦜@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Poole Park - The Forster's Tern that has been frequenting the posts near the model boating area within the park. Also Sandwich Tern and the resident drake Mandarin Duck 🦉🌍🦜@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Poole Park- Forster's Tern still on post within park. Pic BOC @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Radipole RSPB - An early start paid dividends with a Red-rumped Swallow spending its third day at the north end of the reserve. Marsh Harrier were also active at dawn from the north screen. 🦉🌍🦜 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetraptors.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Radipole RSPB- Red Rumped Swallow showing well at North end of reserve view from road bridge crossing River Wey. Pic BOC @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Bardolf Farm - WeBS and Winter Finch counts; Goosander 2, Wigeon 495, Teal 268, Lapwing 437, Green Sand 2, Snipe 4, Cattle Egret 2, Corn Bunting 154, Yellowhammer 237, Chaffinch 128, Siskin 11, Barn Owl, @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Bardolf Farm - A chilly but sunny day during the GWCT Big Farmland Bird Count; Cattle Egret 7, Corn Bunting 10, Yellowhammer 130, Wigeon 388, Teal 102, Lapwing 351, A movement of gulls through the farm Mediterranean Gull 21 and Black-headed Gull 190. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

The A35 also dissects the land with the Devils Brook and River Piddle running through the farm. The meadows are flooded in the winter acting as flood relief for local villages. This brings in c1500 wildfowl to winter on the farm.

Bardolf Manor is part of the 350ha private farm whose land runs from Tolpuddle in the east through Athelhampton to Puddletown in the west. The land crosses the A354 to Langhams Vineyard in the NW and across the ridge to N of Tolpuddle. The water meadows are viewable from Athelhampton Rd.

Thank you Alan. They are becoming more regular and annual visitors to the farm.

Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm - The sun came out and so did the raptors including a White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) that caused chaos on the water meadows below! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetraptors.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm- White-tailed Eagle circling Meadows. Pic BOC @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetraptors.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

I've not seen you there at 1830 either! Great to catch up today a typo 0835! 🤣

Lodmoor RSPB - Little Gull still present at The Hump. White-tailed Eagle E across reserve at 1835hrs. Pic BOC @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetraptors.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Bardolf Farm - Cattle Egret 8, Egyptian Goose 4 (Athelhampton); Corn Bunting 54, Golden Plover c35 Circling moving NE at top of ridge at 1145hrs, Yellowhammer 155 (Higher Burnbake); Red Kite 2, Red-legged Partridge 12, @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Bardolf Farm - The meadows are full to capacity! Cattle Egret 8, Lapwing 1257, Shoveler 5, Snipe 2. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social 🦉🌍🦜

Affpuddle - Tundra Bean Goose on flooded meadows with Greylag and Canadas pic BOC @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Bardolf Farm - WeBS; Wigeon 568, Teal 134, Shoveler 9, Lapwing 668, Snipe 8, Green Sand 2, Feeding Stations; Corn Bunting 61, Yellowhammer 268, Brambling, Chaffinch 137 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social🦉🌍🦜

Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm- Ruff on meadows with lapwing viewable from Athelhampton Rd @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Radipole RSPB - Today's drake Goldeneye which was between the Visitor Centre and the road bridge. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm- Tundra Bean Goose on meadows wirh Canadas near cottage. Viewable from Athelhampton Rd E of Puddletown. Pic BOC. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Waddock Cross Cress Beds - Glossy Ibis 9 on Cress beds. Pic BOC @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm- Tundra Bean Goose on Water Meadows viewable from Athelhampton Rd E of Puddletown. Also Great White Egret and flock of Woodlark c20 in Broadfield with Dave Foot @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Bardolf Farm - Today in the rain at the farm; Tundra Bean Goose still at Athelhampton this afternoon, Cattle Egret 3 (Waterbarn Cottages), Corn Bunting 51 single flock and Yellowhammer 151 feeding stations @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social

Bardolf Farm- Tundra Bean Goose still at Athelhampton on N meadows before Burleston. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @rarebirder.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Bardolf Farm - A MEGA and third record for the farm, Tundra Bean Goose at Athelhampton pm on North field with Canada Geese before Burleston. Viewable from Athelhampton Road. Last record March 2004 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

A few of the endemics during my festive tour of Sri Lanka with Experiential Journeys; Dhammithera Samarasingha (Guide) Supun (driver aka Michael Schumacher!). Yellow-eared Bulbul (Horton Plains), Brown-capped Babbler, Sri Lanka Scimitar Babbler and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie (all Sinharaja Rainforest)

I would think so with the third bird visiting Longham Lakes a while back! Next stop Bardolf Farm 🙏

I particularly enjoy walking farmland in search of my feathered friends! Today involved a visit to my regular and a local farm - Pink Footed Goose 2 at Woodsford Farm and Cattle Egret 4 at Puddletown Water Meadows Bardolf Farm 🦉🌍🦜 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social