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While visiting family and to celebrate my birthday in Dorset in the first two weeks in July, I managed to visit two excellent places.
In the second week I went to Blashford Lakes Wildlife Reserve but never got out the car because it lashed it down with rain for the 90 minutes I was there.
Later in the week visited Durlston Country Park near Swanage. It was sunny, warm and windy. The main reason for going there was for the Lulworth Skipper, Dartford Warbler and Marbled White. First birds seen were two Peregrine followed by two Raven, then saw four Marbled White [got a couple of poor shots] and a Meadow Brown.
Then went along coastal path eastwards and met a brummy who was photographing Lulworth Skippers, managed to see three and took a poor shot of one, the wind didn't help! We exchanged notes. Took some landscape etc shots of the crashing seas on the rocks. After scaling the path to the Dolphin Watchpoint I was almost cream crackered lol... Managed to get some half decent shots of juv Cormorants on the rocks. Saw assorted gulls etc.
The climb I say climb rather than walk because for me that is what it felt like to get back to car. I was there almost seven hours and the parking cost me £6.50! Was it worth it, YES.
The day before I came home visited Blashford again, this time it was sunny and warm. This is an up and coming reserve that is well worth a visit, I can't wait to go again!
I got there mid-afternoon and went to the Tern Hide first. First bird I saw was an Hobby, five had been recorded on the sightings board along with Green/Common Sand, Peregrine etc.
There are six hides but they are locked at 16.30 and the gates are also locked at this time. I asked one of the staff where to park and was told just outside the gates would be okay, so I did. There is a small gate to access the reserve or those with a wheelchair can unlock it with a Radar Key it says. For me the best part of the reserve which is split in two is the Dockens Water a small stream/river, for me it was heaven!
Spoke with the warden at length about the place.
While staying with family they had a pair of Great Tit with two young nesting in an hole in apple tree, sadly I think they perished. But next door had a pair of Herring Gull nesting on the roof against the chimney breast, they had three young uns which I found very interesting and was taking their photos and filming them most of time, the adults took turns in diving bombing me!
Enjoyed my time with family plus birthday and wildlife watching.
Kind regards
John
PS: never did see the Dartford Warbler, the birders down there couldn't understand how I'd missed it. Nearly forgot another good place I went for the wobbler but missed out, it was late evening, but that's not an excuse. Hartford Moor near Corfe.
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GETTING OLD HAS IT'S ADVANTAGES BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THEY ARE lol
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