Stalked by Storks

A days birding with Paul. Unusually for us we did not have a “target bird” for the day. We headed off to Portland Bill arriving about 08:30. Nothing much doing on the sea so we decided to walk the general area. We bumped into some local birders in the top fields and in conversation they mentioned that the White Storks had been reported near Weymouth, we told them that we had seen them last Sunday in Oxfordshire. At that very moment one of the birders was alerted by some gulls making quite a commotion. He then said “there they are, the Storks are here!” The Storks flew up the centre of the island before turning round and heading back towards Weymouth. Not too many people have seen these Storks in 2 counties I think?

Noteworthy birds at “the Bill”; Whimbrel, Guillemot, Razorbill, Gannet, Fulmar, Shag, Rock Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear (in excess of 100 birds in the area), Skylark, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff,  Spotted Flycatcher, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Little Owl.

A brief but productive stop at Southwell; Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Little Tern (7).

On the way home we stopped off at Acre’s Down in the New Forest, quieter than usual but we did note the following; Firecrest, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Nuthatch (pair attending nesthole), Sparrowhawk, Cuckoo (calling), Stonechat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Bullfinch (calling), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Paul’s pics below; Linnet, Fulmar, Peregrine, Wheatear, White Stork, 5 White Storks, Hobby, Little Owl, Ringed Plover, Sanderling/Dunlin, Spotted Flycatcher, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit. As always click on pics to enlarge.