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A photo diary of wildlife and scenery in the Dorset (south coast of England) area.
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The unrelenting fronts bringing wind and rain keep coming in of the Atlantic, with the ocacasional dry spell in between. A tour of the harbour revealed that most of the overwintering bird species are back in their usual locations.
 Purple Sandpipers by the ferry.
 Blackneck Grebe in Shell Bay.
 Great Northern Diver.
 Oystercatchers,Brents and Barwits at Jerry's Point.
 Grey Plover by the houseboats.
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The other side of the road to Middlebere is Hartland Moor. Growing along the old tramway are numerous species of Waxcaps, some easy to identify and some not. Further up the tramway a group of Fieldfares were chuckling away as they stripped the berries off the bushes.
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Took the path around Scotland farm which is still quite dry for the time of year. The mixture of meadows, heathland and pine conifers always provides a wide variety of fungi to examine.
 Scotland Farm
 Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus)
 Butter Waxcap (Hygrocybe ceracea)
  Buff Meadow Cap (Hygrocybe pratensis) |
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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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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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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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Snowy Waxcap
?
Parrot Waxcaps
Conical Waxcap
Hygrocybe vitellina
