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A Dorset Diary

A Dorset Diary

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A photo diary of wildlife and scenery in the Dorset (south coast of England) area.
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Middlebere - Black Redstart - 9:07 PM, Saturday, November 7, 2009

Just for a change, went down to Middlebere again. Bright, sunny and cold conditions meant excellent visibilty for watching the Marsh and Hen Harriers. There were two new birds, a Black Redstart on the barn roof and in the lane a pair of Bramblings, feeding on the Rowan berries.




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Middlebere - Hen Harrier - 7:51 PM, Friday, October 30, 2009

A very interesting walk down to the hide, both Fieldfares and Redwings were feeding in the bushes along with the Bullfinches. Along the track there were Parasol, Verdigris and Wood Blewit fungi growing. Out in the channel a group of Pintails were swimming alongside a flock of almost a thousand Avocets . The real bonus was a male Hen Harrier sweeping up and down the reedbeds looking for its prey of small birds and mammals.
Middlebere at its autumnal best.








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Middlebere - Spoonbill flyby. - 10:48 PM, Sunday, October 25, 2009

A group of Spoonbills 10-15 strong are regularly feeding at Middlebere. They normally arrive at a still falling low tide, have a good feed and then fly off back to Brownsea Island to rest up. Otherwise the Avocet flock is also visiting regularly (200-300 strong) and the female Marsh Harrier is still about. No reports of any Hen Harriers yet.





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Ober Heath - Fallow deer - 9:37 PM, Sunday, October 18, 2009

No sign of any of the expected Red deer, but a Fallow deer stag with impressive antlers, was bellowing away and trotting around after his does.




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Nine Barrow Down - Kestrel - 8:20 PM, Saturday, October 10, 2009

Another warm day, though the mornings are notably colder and the evenings notably shorter. Took time to photograph a bird we somewhat take for granted, the Kestrel, which was hunting over the down.




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Middlebere - Spoonbills (11) - 12:57 AM, Saturday, October 10, 2009

After a long run of inclement weather it was a relief to get out and about today.  An early morning visit to Avocet hide was rewarded by the sight of a flock of sky dancing Spoonbills. After a quick circuit they settled down in the Middlebere channel and started feeding.



The whole gang with a little egret in the middle.

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