Weymouth (02-08 November)

Saturday 02 November. Megan and I drove down to Weymouth with Otis, stopping for a walk around Maiden Castle on the way and arriving when almost dark. Birds seen were Red Kite over the A35 and 10 Meadow Pipits at Maiden Castle.

Sunday 03 November. After visiting Radipole with Otis we walked to Ferrybridge mostly along the Rodwell Trail before catching a bus back. Otis and I revisited Radipole late afternoon (it was less than 10 minutes walk from where we were staying). Birds seen included a Stonechat on the Rodwell Trail, 125 Brent Geese, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Knot and 650 Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge and 24 Tufted Duck, 150 Mediterranean Gulls, a Marsh Harrier and 71 Pied Wagtails at Radipole. The Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge included yellow A3TS, an adult probably ringed in Germany.

Mediterranean Gulls at Ferrybridge

Mediterranean Gull A3TS, most likely ringed in Germany

Monday 04 November. Radipole and Lodmoor: 20 Shoveler, a flock of 700 Woodpigeons (flying SW over Lodmoor), 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 19 Snipe, a Sanderling (on Weymouth Beach), 120 Mediterranean Gulls, Marsh Harrier (over Lodmoor) and Cetti's Warbler. 

Tuesday 05 November. Two visits to Radipole sandwiched between a bus trip to Dorchester. Birds seen at Radipole included 150 Mediterranean Gulls and Great Egret (flying S). Both Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler were heard.

Wednesday 06 November. Radipole and Lodmoor (while Megan was in the Sealife Centre): 360 Golden Plover, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 20 Snipe, 4 Dunlin, 220 Mediterranean Gulls, Marsh Harrier (roosting at Radipole), Cetti's Warbler and 2 Chiffchaffs.

Mediterranean Gull ASTJ, another most likely ringed in Germany

Thursday 07 November. I visited Radipole with Otis before we walked around the Nothe to Sandsfoot Castle. There Megan and Otis returned along the Rodwell Trail and I continued to Ferry Bridge and Portland. I spent half an hour or so looking in Portland Harbour off Lidl for the potential American holbollii Red-necked Grebe that had been present for a week or so. No success but the wind had picked up a bit and there were 8-10 wind surfers carving up the area so I continued towards Portland Castle where it had been seen from earlier in its stay. Stopping to scan a 100m or so short of the castle I saw the Red-necked Grebe almost immediately although it was distant and diving a lot. I completely failed to pick it up through my camera and even through a telescope it was hard to make out any critical detail. With news of a Pallas's Leaf Warbler in 'a garden' in Southwell it seemed worth jumping on a bus in the hope of seeing someone there who knew more about it. I got off at the top of Avalanche road and was drawn to the hump, seeing a handful of birders in a large unkempt 'garden'. By good fortune I had come to the right place as one was local legend Pete Coe who I'd known in the mid/late 70s. I was looking in the right place but it still took a couple of hours for the Pallas's Leaf Warbler to appear. Well worth the wait then it did! A bus arrived just as I reached the bus stop which was opposite the entrance to the hump and I was back in Weymouth half an hour later. Other birds seen included 360 Mediterranean Gulls, a Shag, 2 Kingfishers, 2 Chifchaffs, a Goldcrest and 3 Stonechats.

Pallas's Leaf Warbler at Southwell, stunning even in deteriorating light

Friday 08 November. Radipole: 30 Shoveler, 35 Gadwall, 20 Teal, 28 Tufted Duck, 70 Mediterranean Gulls, 17 Blue and 20 Long-tailed Tits and 2 Chiffchaffs. Also a Black Redstart on Corfe Castle where we stopped on our way home.